Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

Applied Research Institute – Jerusalem

Report on the Israeli Colonization Activities in the West Bank & the Gaza Strip

Volume 182, September 2013 Issue

http://www.arij.org

Bethlehem

• Israeli Occupation Authorities handed out a military to close an agricultural road led to tens dunums of Palestinian land in Al-Basa and Khallit Arar areas in Wadi Fukein village, west of Bethlehem city.(Maannews 3 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Authorities confiscated heavy tools from As-Sous cement factory in Beit Sahour town, east of Bethlehem city, under the claim that factory located in area classified as area “C” according to Oslo agreement between Palestinian and Israeli authorities signed in the 1995. (RB2000 4 September 2013)

• Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) attacked the weekly non-violent protest against the segregation wall and settlements in Al-Masara village, south of Bethlehem city. The IOA fired teargas and stun grenades at Palestinians, causing dozens of suffocation cases. During the operation, the IOA arrested Mohammad Brijiyah. (Maannews 6 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) invaded Al-Ubiediyah town, east of Bethlehem city, and fired stun grenades at a Palestinian wedding. (Al- Quds 6 September 2013) • Israeli public prosecutor announces the Israeli High court that they lost objections file for confiscated more than 1700 dunums of Palestinian land in Artas village, west of Bethlehem city. (Al-Quds 7 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) attacked Saint George (Mar Georgios’) Monastery in Al-Khader village, west of Bethlehem city. The IOA fired Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

teargas and stun grenades at the Monastery, as a result, dozens of olive trees were torched. The IOA also, destroyed the main gate of the Monastery, and warned the Monks from re-building it. (ARN 8 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Authorities handed out military order to stop the construction in 60 square meters under construction house and to demolish 30 square meters agricultural room, in Um Rukbah area in Al-Khader village, west of Bethlehem city. The targeted house and room are owned by Nadir Abd Al-Salam Salah. (Wafa 8 September 2013) • An Israeli settler living in Tekoa settlement let go his dog at a Palestinian worker; Mudafar Talha Da’dou’ (22 years) from Al-Khader village, west of Bethlehem city, while he was working near the settlement. Mr. Da’dou’ was seriously injured. (ARN 10 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) raided and toured in Bethlehem city. (Maannews 11 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) invaded Beit Fajjar village, south of Bethlehem city, and fired live bullets at Palestinian houses. (Al- Quds 11 September 2013) • Three Palestinians were injured after an Israeli vehicle ran over them while they were near Efrat settlement in Bethlehem governorate. (Al- Quds 12 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) raided the weekly non-violent protest against the Segregation wall and settlements in Al-Masara village, south of Bethlehem city. The IOA assaulted participants and prevented them from reaching to the segregation wall. (ARN 13 September 2013) • Israeli settlers living in Efrat settlement pumped wastewater at Palestinian agricultural land planted with grapes trees, in Wadi Al- Abiyar area in Al-Khader village, west of Bethlehem city. The targeted lands are owned by: Hamza Abdalla Yousif, Ibrahim Mohammad Ali Soboh, and Taleeb Ali Soboh. (Sama News 13 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) and Israeli Civil Administration stormed Khallit Haja area, east of Beit Fajjar village, south Bethlehem, and closed all the entrances and prevented Palestinians from entering or leaving the village. (Raya 16 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) raided and searched several houses in Al-Khader village and Beit Jala town in Bethlehem governorate. The IOA questioned Palestinians and checked their ID cards. (Al-Quds 16 September 2013) • Israeli settlers stormed Zakndah area in Al-Khader village, west of Bethlehem city, swum in agricultural water well, preformed Talmudic Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

rituals, and destroyed the gate of the well. The targeted well is owned by Taha Ahmed Hamad Saleh. (Raya 16 September 2013) • Israeli settles stormed Khalit Al-Fahem and Az-Zaytouna areas in Al- Khader village, west of Bethlehem city and raised the Israeli flags on Grapes trees and Palestinian lands. (RB2000 18 September 2013) • An Israeli colonial school “Side Kfar Etzion” decided to organize a tour to Solomon pool in Bethlehem city on the 20th of September 2013. (Raya 19 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) raided the weekly non violent protest against the Segregation wall and settlements in Al-Masara village, south of Bethlehem city. The IOA assaulted Palestinians and prevented them from leaving the village, after the IOA closed the entrance of the village and declared the area as “ close military zone”.(PNN 20 September 2013) • Israeli settlers living in Gush Etzion settlement bloc with military escort stormed Solomon pool area in Artas village, south of Bethlehem city, and preformed Talmudic rituals. During the operation, the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) intensified its presence in Khalit Al-Fahem area in Al-Khader village and prevented Palestinians from entering the area. (Safa 20 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) erected a military checkpoint at the western entrance of Beit Fajjar village, south of Bethlehem city. The IOA stopped and searched Palestinian vehicles and checked ID cards. (Al-Quds 21 September 2013) • A Palestinian worker was injured and other was arrested after the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) chased them while they were near the Israeli segregation wall in Dar Salah village, east of Bethlehem city. The IOA transferred the arrestee to unknown location. (RB2000 24 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) prevented Palestinian farmers from Al- Jaba’ village, west of Bethlehem city, from reaching their 48 dunums land planted with 600 olive trees. The targeted land was isolated by the Israeli segregation wall. Note that after the construction of the Israeli Segregation wall, the Israeli Authorities allowed Palestinian farmers to reach their land to harvest olive trees. (Al-Quds 24 September 2013) • Clashes erupted between Palestinians and the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) in Ayda refugee camp, north of Bethlehem city. The IOA fired teargas and stun grenades at Palestinians. (RB2000 24 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) stormed and toured in As-Saf, Jamal Ad An-Nasser, and Ajabal streets, Wadi Ma’ale and Bab Zqaz Jabal Hindaza and Jabal Al-Mawaleh areas and Ayda refugee camp in Bethlehem governorate. The IOA erected military checkpoint, stopped Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

and searched Palestinian vehicles and checked ID cards. (Al-Quds 25 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) handed out a military order to evacuate Palestinian land, within 45 days, in Khalit Al-Fahem area in Al-Khader village, west of Bethlehem city. The targeted land is owned by Riziq Hussen Salah. (Wafa 25 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) assaulted and detained for hours four Palestinian children, while they were at An-Nashash area in Al-Khader village, west of Bethlehem city. The Palestinians were identified as: Huseen Shadi Salah (8 years), Ahmed Wael Salah (9 years), Mutasem Mustafah and his brother Hamza. (Wafa 26 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) invaded and toured in Ad-Doha town, west of Bethlehem city. (Safa 26 September 2013) • The Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) stormed Ayda refugee camp, north of Bethlehem city. The IOA fired teargas and stun grenades at Palestinian houses. Clashes erupted between Palestinians and the IOA where the IOA fired rubber bullets, teargas and stun grenades, causing dozens of suffocation cases and the injury of other, one of them were identified as: Musa Ash-Sha’ir. (Al-Quds 27 September 2013) • The Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) attacked the weekly non-violent protest against the Segregation wall and settlements in Al-Masara village, south of Bethlehem city. The IOA assaulted participants and fired rubber bullets and teargas grenades. (Al-Quds 27 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) stormed and searched a Palestinian house owned by Salam Mohammad Diriya in Beit Fajjar village, south of Bethlehem city. The IOA erected a military checkpoint at the entrance of the village. (Al-Quds 28 September 2013) • Four Palestinian workers were injured after the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) assaulted them while they were near the Israeli segregation wall in Dar Salah village, east of Bethlehem city.(RB2000 28 September 2013) • An Israeli settler ran over a Palestinian worker; Hamdan Diyab (39 years) while he was in area located between Husan and Wadi Fukin villages, west of Bethlehem city. (Wafa 29 September 2013)

Jenin

• Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) intensified its presence around Al- Jalamah checkpoint, north of Jenin city. The IOA stormed and searched several stores in the aforementioned area. (Safa 1 September 2013) Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

• Israeli Occupation jeeps invaded and searched a Palestinian house and a barracks in Jaba village, south of Jenin city. The targeted house and barracks are owned by: Mahmoud Yousif Salatnah and Yahya Kamal Fakhouri. During the operation, the Israeli Army confiscated a personal laptop owned by Mahmoud Salatnah. (Wafa 3 September 2013) • Clashes erupted between Palestinians and the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) in Sanur village, south of Jenin city. The IOA fired rubber bullets, teargas and stun grenades at Palestinians, causing dozens of suffocation cases. (Paltoday 3 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) invaded and searched several houses and stores in Kufeirit village, west of Jenin city, and summoned Thair Aghbariha and Zuhair Bakir to interview the Israeli Intelligence Police in Salem military base. (Maannews 4 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) prevented thousands of Palestinians from leaving or entering Barta’a Ash-Sharqiyah village, east of Jenin city; which the Israeli segregation wall surrounded all of the village. The IOA decided to close the main and only checkpoint in the village, starting from 7:00 p.m. under claim of the Hebrew New year. (Wafa 4 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) erected military checkpoints at the entrances of Yabed and Ti’nnik villages in Jenin governorate. The IOA stopped and searched Palestinian vehicles and checked ID cards. (Sama News 6 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) sized a Palestinian vehicle in Jaba’ village, south of Jenin city, after erecting a military checkpoint at the entrance of the village. (Al-Quds 11 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation bulldozers demolished an under construction building consist of 10 commercial stores (600 square meters area), two garage and a stones store in Barta’a Ash-Sharqiyah village, west of Jenin city. The targeted stores are owned by: Hamza Ibrahim Qabha, Thair Jaradat, Mohammad Hassan Qabha and Samir Rabah Qabha. Clashes erupted between Palestinians and the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA), where the IOA fired teargas and stun grenades, causing the torch of a store owned by Yousif Sa’abnih. During the operation, the IOA closed the main entrance of the village and prevented Palestinians from leaving or entering the village. (Sama News 12 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) stormed and searched more than 25 Palestinian houses in Arraba village, south of Jenin city, and detained tens of Palestinians. During the operation, the IOA erected a military checkpoint at the entrance of the village, where the IOA stopped and Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

searched vehicles and checked ID cards. (Maannews 15 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) invaded Al-Yamun village, west of Jenin city. (Raya 16 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) erected military checkpoints at the entrances at Kafr Ra’I, Arraba and Fahma villages in Jenin governorate. The IOA stopped and searched Palestinian vehicles and checked ID cards. (Raya 16 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) invaded the evacuation settlement site of Homesh, south of Silat Adh Dhahr village in Jenin governorate. (Maannews 17 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) stormed and searched Al-Yamun, Sanur, Meithalun, Silat Ash-Dhahr, Tura Al-Gharbiyah, and Siris villages in Jenin Governorate. During the operation, the IOA fired rubber bullets, teargas and stun grenades at Palestinians and houses. (Wafa 17 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) invaded a Palestinian house and destroyed its front door in Jenin refugee camp in Jenin city. During the operation, clashes erupted between Palestinians and the IOA, where the IOA fired live bullets, teargas and stun grenades at Palestinians, causing dozens of suffocation cases and the injury of others. One of the injuries was arrested and identified as Islam At-Tubasee (22 years). Later on an Israeli Hospital declared that Mr. at Tubase was killed. (Maannews 17 September 2013) • Clashes erupted between Palestinians and the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) in Silat Al- Harithiya village, northwest of Jenin city. The IOA fired teargas and stun grenades at Palestinians and a school, causing dozens of suffocation cases. (Al-Quds 17 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) intensified its presence stormed and searched several areas in Jenin city, and erected a military checkpoint at the western entrance of the city. (Wafa 18 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Bulldozers demolished a store for the manufacture of coal and confiscated two tucks in Barta’a Ash-Sharqiya village, west of Jenin city. The targeted store and trucks are owned by Mahmoud Sobhe Younis Qabha. (Wattan 18 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) intensified its presence in Jenin city, searched several areas, fired light grenades, and erected military checkpoints. (Sama News 19 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Authorities prevented Palestinians from Anin village, west of Jenin city, from reaching to their land (11 thousand dunums), which located behind the Israeli segregation wall. (NBPRS 21 September 2013) Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

• Israeli settlers demonstrated and toured in Sabastiya village and near Shave Shamron settlement, south of Jenin city, and carried out provocative actions. (Sama News 22 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) invaded and searched several areas in Jenin city, and Beit Qud village, west of Jenin city. (Wafa 23 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) raided Deir Abu Da’if village, east of Jenin city, and destroyed the main eclectic network. (Wafa 23 September 2013) • Israeli settlers living in Itamar settlement stormed a 12 dunums of Palestinian land planted with olive trees in Jalbun village, east of Jenin city and harvested all of the olive trees. The targeted land and trees are owned by Abd Al-Rahman Mahmoud Abu Al-Rub and his brother Tawfiq. (Wafa 23 September 2013) • Clashes erupted between Palestinians and the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) in Jaba village, south of Jenin city. The IOA fired teargas and stun grenades at Palestinians, causing dozens of suffocation cases. During the clashes, the IOA arrested two Palestinians, were identified as: Aziz Anas Khaliliyah (32 years) and Naseem Suliman Alawnah (38 years). (Al-Ayyam 24 September 2013) • Israeli settlers destroyed a number of olive trees in Jalbun village, east of Jenin city. The targeted trees are owned by: Yousef, Ahmed and Mohammad Abu AlRob, Radwan Abd Al-Raheem Abu Al Rub, Faleh Jetawi and Mahmoud Abd Al-Razeq Abu Al-Rub. (RB2000 24 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) erected military checkpoints at the entrance of Ti’nnik and Al-Yamn villages in Jenin governorate. The IOA stopped and searched Palestinian vehicles and checked ID cards. (Wafa 24 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) invaded and searched several areas in Yabad village, west of Jenin city. (Maannews 25 September 2013) • Israeli settlers with military escort invaded and toured in Jabal Al- Houfrah area, south of Jenin city. The Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) prevented Palestinians from reaching to the aforementioned area. (Maannews 25 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) closed the main entrance of Yabad village, west of Jenin city, stopped and searched Palestinian vehicles and checked ID cards. During the operation, the IOA stormed the village and fired stun grenades at houses. (Wafa 29 September 2013)

Jerusalem Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

• Israeli settlers with military escort stormed from Bab Al-Magharbah Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem city and toured in the court yard of the mosque. The Israeli settlers preformed Talmudic rituals. During the operation, the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) prevented Palestinians from entering Al-Aqsa mosque. (Safa 1 September • Al-Aqsa Foundation for Al-Wqaf and Heritage declared that the Israeli Occupation Authorities started new digging under Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem city. These dig discovered two new tunnels; one started from Ein Silwan to the southwest part of Al-Aqsa mosque and under Bab Al- Magharba to the Israeli outpost, visitor center in David city. The second tunnel, started from the northwest part of Al-Aqsa mosque to the northern part of it. (Safa 1 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) sized two Palestinian commercial stores in Al-Hakari neighborhood in Aqaba Al-Khalidiya in the old city of Jerusalem. The targeted stores owned by Al-Khateeb family. (Al- Quds 2 September 2013) • Clashes erupted between Palestinians and the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) in Abu Dis town, east of Jerusalem city. The IOA fired teargas and stun grenades at Palestinians causing dozens of suffocation cases. (Maannews 2 September 2013) • Israeli settlers with military escort, stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque from Bab Al-Magharbah in Jerusalem city, and performed Talmudic rituals. (Paltoday 2 September 2013)

• New Report by ACRI and Ir Amim Reveals: 2,200 Classrooms Still Missing in East Jerusalem: Only 150 Classrooms Built Over Past Five Years. Despite a High Court ruling that the Jerusalem Municipality and Ministry of Education have until 2016 to rectify the shortage of missing classrooms, only 150 classrooms have been built over the past five years. The new report reveals that despite an overall 13% dropout rate, there are no dropout prevention programs in one third of Arab secondary schools in Jerusalem. Grave discrimination in allocation of professional school staff persists: roughly 250 school counselor’s work in West Jerusalem as compared to only 29 in East Jerusalem. With the start of the new school year, today (2.9.2013) The Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) and Ir Amim published an annual update on the dire state of education in East Jerusalem, revealing deep gaps between the two parts of the city. The report concludes that the Jerusalem Municipality and state authorities are failing to meet a High Court ruling that ordered the completion of all missing classrooms in East Jerusalem by 2016. Faced with a shortage of 2,200 missing classrooms in the official Arab school system in Jerusalem, the Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

authorities are doing too little to close this intolerable gap. The report reveals that despite Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat’s public statements, according to which under his leadership the Municipality has invested significantly more than previous administrations in improving the educational system in East Jerusalem, the pace of building new classrooms has remained slow. During the current term of the mayor and city council, from 2009 onwards, only 150 new classrooms were built in East Jerusalem and 332 additional classrooms are in various stages of planning. While the authorities maintain that a lack of suitable vacant lands in East Jerusalem is the main hurdle for the construction of new schools for Palestinian children, they are continuously advancing new building plans for Israeli purposes on the scarce available land remaining in East Jerusalem. The total Palestinian dropout rate in Jerusalem, across all ages is 13%; in comparison, notes the report, “in 2011, the dropout rate in Hebrew secondary schools nationwide was 2.6%; in Arab secondary schools nationwide it was 4.6%; and in West Jerusalem, only 1%.” Dropout occurs mainly during secondary: In the 2012-2013 school year 10% of Arab children in 8th and 9th grade were not enrolled in any educational institution. For 10th grade, this figure doubled to 20% and by 11th grade, 30% of the students did not attend school. The report concludes: “The result is that 36% of children in East Jerusalem fail to complete a full 12 years of school.” According to figures compiled by the Jerusalem Education Administration (MANHI), in 30% of the high schools in East Jerusalem MANHI does not operate any dropout prevention program and in 44% it runs only one program. While 225 students in Jerusalem’s Hebrew education benefited from a national dropout prevention program in 2012, there were only 100 beneficiaries in East Jerusalem. Meanwhile, Palestinian students comprise 56% of the student body that MANHI oversees (the remaining 44% study in Jewish secular schools and Jewish national-religious schools). Another chapter in the report describes the tremendous disparities in the allocation of professional personnel positions between the educational systems in West and East Jerusalem. Only five inspectors are employed in the East Jerusalem educational system while in West Jerusalem there are 18 inspectors. The disparities are even greater in the case of school counselors, whose role is critical in providing psychological support and preventing dropout. Only 29 school counselors operate in East Jerusalem compared to some 250 counselors in East Jerusalem, despite the harsh socioeconomic conditions that many Palestinian families face and the dire need for school personnel to support students. (ACRI 2 September 2013) Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

• Israeli settlers with military escort stormed and toured in the court yard of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem city and performed Talmudic rituals. (Safa 3 September 2013) • Clashes erupted between Palestinians and the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) near Al-Quds University in Abu Dis town, east of Jerusalem city, after the IOA stormed the town and stationed near the University. The IOA fired teargas and stun grenades at Palestinians causing dozens of suffocation cases. (Maannews 4 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) stormed the court yard of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem city, surrounded the Palestinians and sprayed pepper gas at them, causing dozens of suffocation cases. During the operation, the IOA escorted the storming of a group of Israeli settlers to the court yard of Al-Aqsa Mosque. As a result, clashes erupted between Palestinians and the IOA, where the latter fired teargas and stun grenades at Palestinians, causing dozens of suffocation cases. (SilwanIC 4 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) intensified its presence in the old city of Jerusalem and at all the entrance of Al-Aqsa mosque. The IOA set up several checkpoints, and prevented thousands of Palestinians from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque. (SilwanIC 4 September 2013)

• Mayor says Jerusalem can't be split. In AP interview, Barkat says capital can only function as 'united city which treats all residents and visitors honestly and equally'. Jerusalem's mayor said Tuesday that any partition of the city as part of a future peace agreement will not work, insisting only a united city could function and thrive. In a wide- ranging interview with The Associated Press, Nir Barkat said his administration has treated the city's Arab residents honestly and equally. Israeli and Palestinian negotiators recently resumed peace negotiations after a five-year lull. The Palestinians demand the eastern sector of the city as their future capital and consider any Israeli construction there illegal settlements that hinder the prospect of peace. Barkat said thoughts of dividing the city should be off the table. "It will never function, it will never work. It is a bad deal," the former high- tech entrepreneur told The Associated Press. "Doing a bad deal is worse than no deal." Israel captured east Jerusalem, home to key Jewish, Muslim and Christian holy sites, from Jordan in the 1967 Mideast war and annexed the area in a move that has not been recognized internationally. The combined population of east and west - - 800,000 -- makes Jerusalem Israel's largest city. That is split almost evenly into thirds between secular and modern Orthodox residents, Muslim Palestinians, and ultra-Orthodox Jews. Over the years, the Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

growing religious influence, coupled with a high cost of living, has pushed tens of thousands of secular Jerusalemites to leave the city. Barkat was elected in 2008 promising to reverse the trend and has attempted to revive secular life in the city without alienating the ultra- Orthodox. Barkat has increased the city's culture budgets and has given the city a boost with high-profile events like concerts, street festivals, marathons and other sporting events. At the same time, he has outspoken in his belief that Israel must retain control over east Jerusalem. The fate of the city remains at the heart of the Israeli- Palestinian conflict. The Israeli government is responsible for peace talks with the Palestinians, and the mayor of Jerusalem has no say in the city's political future. But as chief executive he can affect the delicate balance between Arab and Jew, especially in regards to building permits, construction, education and public services. Drawing on the city's ancient history, Barkat said Jerusalem has always been at its finest when it was undivided and allowed all those who entered its gates to feel equality and a sense of belonging. "Jerusalem of 3,000 years ago was not divided into tribes. All people that came to worship ... at the Temple felt that Jerusalem belonged to them as much as it belongs to everyone else and that feeling created a very special atmosphere of belonging," he said. "There is only one way this city can function -- it is a united city that all residents and visitors are treated honestly and equally. It is the only model." Barkat is seeking re- election to a second five-year term in October. (Ynetnews 4 September 2013) • Housing Minister: Temple Mount must be open to Jews at all times. Ariel plans to continue visiting holy site to "strengthen our sovereignty" over the Mount. Jews must be able to pray on the Temple Mount whenever they want, Housing and Construction Minister Uri Ariel said on a visit to the holy site Wednesday morning. Ariel ascended the Mount on the eve of Rosh Hashanna, and expressed hope that one day Jewish worshipers would be able to do the same on the holiday. "The Temple Mount is the holiest place for the Jewish people, and must be open for prayer at every hour to every Jew," Ariel stated. The Bayit Yehudi minister added that he "plans to continue to go up [to the Mount] and strengthen the State of Israel's sovereignty in the site." "The Temple Mount is ours, and it cannot be argued about or negotiated," Ariel emphasized. Earlier this year, Ariel launched virtual, online tours of the Temple Mount on Tisha Be'av, the day that, according to tradition, the Messiah will return and the Holy Temple will be rebuilt in Jerusalem. "[Secular people] aren't taught, so they don't know anything about the destruction of the Temple. They think Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

the Temple Mount is a place where rocks are thrown and right wing people make provocations," Ariel quipped. (JPOST 4 September 2013) • Israeli settlers and a group of Jewish rabbis with military escort, stormed and toured in the court yard of Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem city, and presented a lecture about the mosque. (Paltoday 4 September 2013) • Israeli settlers living in French hill settlement in Jerusalem city demanded the Israeli governorate to establish a channel between the settlement and Al-Issawiya town, to separate the Israeli settlers from Palestinians. (Al-Quds 5 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Authorities forced Shakir Naeef Ja’abees to demolish his 100 square meters house in Jabal Al-Mukaber neighborhood in Jerusalem city. (Wafa 5 September 2013)

• Clashes erupted between Palestinians and the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) at the court yard of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem city. The IOA fired rubber bullets, teargas and stun grenades at Palestinians, causing 30 of suffocation cases and the injury of 20 people. During the clashes, the IOA arrested 15 Palestinians; seven of the arrestees were identified as: Loay An-Natsha, Ahmed Al-Fakhouri (18 years), Arfat Al-Fakhuri, Hithem Diyab, Ahmed Jalad, Hamid Qiresh and Firas Toutah. The IOA assaulted and injured Palestinian journalists. (SilwanIC 6 September 2013) • Israeli settles invaded and toured in Silwan town in Jerusalem city, and attacked Palestinian children. The Israeli settlers reached to Ein Silwn area and performed Talmudic rituals to celebrate the Hebrew New year. (SilwanIC 6 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) stormed and searched several Palestinian houses in Bab Al-Hadid neighborhood in the old city of Jerusalem. During the operation, the IOA assaulted and injured Um Ala’, and Iyad Juijan. (SilwanIC 8 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) raided and searched two Palestinian houses owned by Al-‘Awar family in Ein Al-Louz neighborhood in Silwan town in Jerusalem city. (SilwanIC 8 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) invaded Abu Dis town, east of Jerusalem city, and stationed near Al-Quds University, the IOA stopped Palestinian students and checked their ID cards. Clashes erupted between Palestinians and the IOA, where the latter fired rubber bullets, teargas and stun grenades, causing more than 30 suffocation cases. (Safa 8 September 2013) Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

• Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem escorted by Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) stormed Silwan town in Jerusalem city and handed out administrative orders to demolish a stadium (total area 850 square meters) which included a barracks and three stable, and three commercial stores owned by Qarra’en family, three bird’s barracks, and under construction house. (SilwanIC 8 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Authorities have embarked on the implementation of infrastructure work to expand the settlement of "Pisgat Ze'ev"; whish established on Palestinian land in Beit Hanina town in Jerusalem city. The Israeli municipality of Jerusalem started to level and excavations in the area, and preparing the infrastructure of streets, sanitation networks, electricity, water and communications, to move forward with the settlement plan structural No.11647, to the expansion of the settlement of" Pisgat Ze'ev " by adding 620 housing units. (Al- Quds Net 8 September 2013) • Israeli Police Commissioner Yohanan Danino said that the Israeli Police agreed the entry of Jews to the Temple Mount, as the court yard of “Temple Mount", considered that "the guaranteed right of the Jew. Danino said in an interview "every Jew wants to pray on the Temple Mount (the Al-Aqsa Mosque), and wants to reach there, and we must ensure this right, within specified times for that.” (Safa 9 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation bulldozers started the construction of 10 meters channel on Palestinian land. The establishment of this channel will separate Al-Issawiya town and French hill settlement in Jerusalem city. Note that the Israeli settlers living in French Hill demined the Israeli Occupation Authorities the establishment of this channel. (Maannews 9 September 2013) • Israeli settlers wrote anti-Palestinian slogans and punctured tires of three buses owned by Ath-Thauri – Silwan buses Company and Bethlehem Buses Company while they were in Ath-Thauri neighborhood, south of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem city (Al-Quds Net 10 September 2013) • Israeli settlers with military escort invade and toured in the court yard of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem city. (Paltoday 10 September 2013) • Israeli Ministry of Housing; Oreh Ariel along with a group of Israeli settlers with military escort stormed and toured in the court yard of Al- Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem city. (Al-Quds 11 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Authorities demolished ten residential structures (inhabited by 35 Palestinians) and ten structures for animals in Ash- Sheikh Anbar neighborhood in Az Za’em village, east of Jerusalem Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

city. The targeted structures are owned by As-Sa’eedi family. (Al-Quds 11 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) demolished two houses (inhabited by 17 family members) and an animal barracks in Al-Khan Al Ahmer area, east of Jerusalem city. The targeted houses are owned by Salim and Ibrahim Al-Jahaleen. (Al-Ayyam 11 September 2013)

• Absentee Property Law in East Jerusalem || Israeli court may suspend law used to take over Palestinian land in Jerusalem. Judges worry that such a ruling would have far-reaching consequences, if applied to every case since 1967; Justice Elyakim Rubinstein calls idea a 'Pandora's box' that could cause legal and practical chaos. Supreme Court justices indicated on Tuesday they want to stop invoking the controversial Absentee Property Law in East Jerusalem, which has been used often to transfer property from the Palestinian owners into the hands of Israeli Jews. However, the judges said they were worried about opening a "Pandora's box" of legal problems. During a hearing before an expanded panel of seven Supreme Court justices, the judges and state prosecutors pressed attorneys for Palestinians whose property had been confiscated to reach a settlement for return of their property or compensation in return for dropping the appeal, which would spare the Supreme Court having to decide if the law applies in East Jerusalem. Under that law, any person who lived in a hostile country or in the area of “the Land of Israel” that was not under the State of Israel’s control, and owned property within the state, is considered an absentee owner and his property can be transferred to the state’s Custodian of Absentee Property. The primary purpose of this law was to enable use of lands belonging to Arabs who fled during the War of Independence. After the Six-Day War, which saw the extension of Jerusalem's municipal boundaries into the West Bank, Palestinians with assets in Jerusalem suddenly found themselves considered “absentee” owners, even though they hadn’t gone anywhere. Sometimes they were living only a few hundred meters away, but outside the Jerusalem city limits and officially in the West Bank, and found their property confiscated only because Israel drew the new municipal border between them and their property, making them no longer residents of Jerusalem. "If there is a practical solution, the practical solution is preferable," said court President Asher Grunis. But Avigdor Feldman, the lawyer representing two of the Arab families whose property was confiscated, objected to the return of the properties without a decision on the principle of the matter. "There is no reason to release the property except for the desire to dismiss this Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

appeal and to prevent the discussion of the question of the absenteeism,” said Feldman. In the four cases being heard, the appeal claims the application of the Absentee Property Law inside East Jerusalem contradicts the purpose of the original law: Allowing the use of the property left behind by refugees who fled in the War of Independence. It is no longer possible to classify the territories, which have been controlled by Israel for 45 years, as "enemy territory" any longer, attorneys for the Palestinians argued. Feldman that by the current application of the law, West Bank settlers who leave property behind in Israel are absentees whose property could be - but isn’t - confiscated by the state. (Haaretz 11 September 2013) • A number of Palestinian families (about 240 Palestinians) forced to evacuate their houses in Al-Qarmi neighborhood in the old city of Jerusalem because of the Israeli excavations under the neighborhood, which causing damaged in their houses. (SilwanIC 12 September 2013) • An Israeli woman tried to storm Al-Aqsa Mosque while she was wearing an Islamic traditional clothe. (SilwanIC 12 September 2013) • Israeli settlers escorted by Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) invaded Al- Aqsa mosque from Bab Al-Magharbah in Jerusalem city and toured in its court yard. The IOA prevented Palestinians from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque, and assaulted a number of Palestinians and journalists. During the operation, the IOA set up several checkpoints in the old city of Jerusalem. (Al-Quds & Paltoday 12 September 2013) • Clashes erupted between Palestinians and the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) at the entrance of Al-Issawiya town in Jerusalem city, after the IOA closed one of Al-Issawiya entrance. (Safa 13 September 2013)

• Jerusalem digs ditch to separate Jewish, Palestinian neighborhoods Ditch necessary to deter violence and crime, Jewish residents and city officials say; Critics maintain separation will only further alienation and neglect. The Jerusalem municipality dug a separation ditch this week between Jewish and Palestinian neighborhoods of Jerusalem as a security measure after repeated complaints of violence against Jewish residents. Neighbors and city officials say physical separation between the French Hill neighborhood and the Palestinian village of Isawiyah in East Jerusalem is an appropriate deterrent against crime and terror attacks. Isawiyah residents and critics in city hall say, however, that the ditch only serves to stoke animosity and perpetuate neglect of the village. Personal safety in the French Hill neighborhood has in recent weeks become a central issue in the race for Jerusalem municipal office. A number of parties have criticized the municipality and Mayor Nir Barkat, for failing to provide residents protection from acts of terrorism Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

such as firebombing and criminally motivated burglaries and car theft, believed to originate in adjacent Isawiyah. Female students living in the neighborhood have also complained of sexual harassment by Palestinians. “We have a real problem. There is no physical separation and the level of hostility is very high,” said Avner Blankstein, a member of the board of the French Hill Community Council. City officials have coordinated with police to implement several security measures such as new security cameras and increased street lighting. The city has also allocated a budget to set up a neighborhood patrol. This week the city stepped up efforts further. Jerusalem City Manager Yossi Hyman had proposed deepening an existing ditch between Nahagei HaPradot Street and Isawiyah. In recent days the ditch was dug. It stretches for a few hundred meters, and the earth removed has been used to build a an embankment besides the ditch. The goal of the ditch is to block entrance for off-road vehicles and cars from the village to the neighborhood, Blankstein said. In the past, French Hill residents proposed building a fence between the neighborhoods, and one resident even built a private fence that was then dismantled by the authorities. "We realize that building a fence is a decision even the prime minister can't make, that's at the level of the Americans,” a resident said. “It's true that a ditch won't stop a 17-year-old, but it does create an obstacle. It also won't stop a resident of the village coming to the post office. We've given a lot of thought to the ethical aspect of the ditch and to neighborly relations and we're also worried about the neighborhood's image, but there seems to be a real, objective problem." The gesture of building a ditch and not a fence might have been lost on the Palestinians neighbors. "This proves that there is great hatred for Isawiyah in French Hill," said Darwish Darwish, the mukhtar of Isawiyah village. "Isawiyah was here before French Hill, and the neighborhood was built on village land. In the past, the residents were friendly, but today they've changed and they're no longer interested in maintaining good relations with their neighbors." Deputy Mayor Yosef (Pepe) Alalu, Chairman of the Meretz faction who is running for mayor, has blasted the city over the separation ditch. "An embankment and ditch cannot solve safety problems; Just the opposite,” he said. “The village residents feel insulted time and time again and they ask themselves if after the mound of dirt there will be a separation fence, and another separation fence. The embankment only invited more violence. It's too bad the tractor, instead of digging a ditch, didn't enter the village and carry out trash and provide debris hauling removal jobs that the residents have been demanding from the municipality for a long time." The Jerusalem Municipality stated in response: "As part of Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

the security committee set up in the community council, it was decided to perform a number of operations by the municipality to increase security and assist the police in reducing the number of violent incidents in the neighborhood. The mayor has already visited the neighborhood personally to investigate this matter, and together with police officials has met with representatives of the community council a number of times, including in recent weeks. (Haaretz 13 September 2013) • Israeli settlers assaulted and injured Nicola Qaqish (15 years) and seized his bicycle while he was in An-Nasara neighborhood in the old city of Jerusalem. (Safa 14 September 2013) • Israeli settlers with military escort stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem city and toured in its court yard. During the operation, the Israeli settlers preformed a presentation about the “Temple Tomb”. (Wafa 15 September 2013) • Israeli settlers assaulted and injured Mahir Abdalla Abu Lil (48 years) from Al-Issawiya town in Jerusalem city; while he was trying to help Palestinian children from an Israeli settler attacked. (Quds Net 15 September 2013) • Israeli settlers with military escort raided and toured in the court yard of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem city. During the operation, the IOA stained at the entrance of Al-Aqsa Mosque, stopped and searched Palestinians and checked their ID cards. (Sama News 16 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) intensified its presence at all the entrances of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem city and at the court yard it, to escort Israeli settlers while invading the mosque. Note that Kneeest interior committee decided to allow Israeli settlers to storm Al-Aqsa Mosque, and to performed Talmudic rituals. (Paltoday 17 September 2013) • Israeli settlers with military escort stormed and toured in the court yard of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem city. (Safa 17 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) raided Abu Dis town, east of Jerusalem city and surrounded Abu Dis High School for boys. Clashes erupted between Palestinians and the IOA, where the IOA fired teargas and stun grenades at Palestinians and a school, causing dozens of suffocation cases. (Safa 18 September 2013) • Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem along with the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) stormed a Palestinian house owned by Jawad Siyam in Silwan town in Jerusalem city, under the claim that the house build without license. Mr. Siyam declared that he restored the roof of his house. (SilwanIC 18 September 2013) Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

• Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem city from Al-Magharba and As-Salsla gates, closed Al-Qabali mosque doors and assaulted Palestinians. During the operation, Israeli settlers stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque to celebrate Sukkot day. As a result, clashes erupted between Palestinians and the IOA, where the IOA fired pepper gas, and arrested three Palestinians, one of the arrestees was identified as: Tamir Shalita. (SilwanIC 18 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Authorities handed out a military order to demolish a Palestinian building (consist of 2 floors) in Abu Dis town, east of Jerusalem city, under the claim that the building is illegal and build without license. The targeted building is owned by Mutaz Badir. The IOA notified Mr. Badir to demolish his own building within a week. (Quds News 18 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation authorities issued orders to evacuate 28 Palestinian families from al-Qarmi neighborhood in the old city of Jerusalem. Israeli municipality staff posted orders reading "Beware, building at risk, do not enter" on three building in the neighborhood. Three staff members from Israel's Gihon water company were also present, and took pictures of damaged water pipes around the properties. Israeli authorities gave the home-owners 30 days to repair the buildings, after which time they will be fined 150 shekels ($42) per day. (Maannews 18 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Authorities closed Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem city and prevented Palestinians from entering it. The IOA surrounded the Mosque and assaulted Palestinians by spray pepper gas on their faces. (Quds News 18 September 2013) • Israeli settlers with military escort stormed Suq Al-Qattaneen and gathered at the entrance of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem city and performed Talmudic rituals to celebrate Sukkot day. In the same time, a group of Israeli settlers with military escort raided and toured in the court yard of Al-Aqsa Mosque and preformed Talmudic rituals. Note that the Israeli Authorities set up a number of stages in An-Nassara neighborhood in the old city of Jerusalem, for settlers to celebrate Sukkot day. (Sama News 19 September 2013) • The Israeli excavations under the old city of Jerusalem causing damaged in a Palestinian house owned by Al-Zarba family. The targeted house consists of 3 storeys and inhabited by 10 family members. (Al-Quds 20 September 2013) • Israeli settlers assaulted and injured two Palestinians while they were in front of their house in the Old city of Jerusalem. Clashes erupted between Palestinians and Israeli settlers. (SilwanIC 20 September 2013) Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

• A Palestinian; Hesham Saleh Al-Abasi (28 years), was injured after an Israeli settler hit him by his vehicle near Al-Magharba gate in Silwan town in Jerusalem city. (SilwanIC 20 September 2013) • Clashes erupted between Palestinians and the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) in Abu Dis town, east of Jerusalem city. The IOA fired rubber bullets, teargas and stun grenades at Palestinians, causing dozens of suffocation cases and the injury of 15 people. (Safa 22 September 2013) • Israeli settlers stormed and toured in the old city of Jerusalem, gathered at the Western wall, and performed Talmudic rituals to celebrate Sukkot day. (Wafa 22 September 2013) • Israeli settlers punctured the tires of 6 Palestinian vehicles and wrote anti-Palestinian slogans on them in Ash-Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in Jerusalem city. The targeted vehicles are owned by Muhseen Al- Kaswani, and Haja, Shamasnah, Zahran and Salem families. (SilwanIC 22 September 2013) • Israeli settlers with military escort stormed and toured in the court yard of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem city. (SilwanIC 22 September 2013)

• Five new lines planned in J’lem light rail expansion. With new stops, rail is expected to have 250,000 travelers a day, up from the current 140,000. The Jerusalem light rail system will be expanded to include another five lines over the next 20 years, under a plan being drafted by city hall and the Transportation Ministry. The capital’s light rail currently includes one line, operated by tender holder CityPass. The company is still supposed to extend that line to include more stops. The first part of the long-term plan for the light rail, to finish by 2020, calls for expanding the existing red line. Initially the line would be expanded from Pisgat Ze’ev up to Neveh Yaakov in the north, and from Mount Herzl to Tahun Junction in the south by 2016, and later from Tahun to Ora Junction. It also calls for beginning a line from Herzl Boulevard to the Givat Ram campus via the government compound (the “campus line”). Ultimately, the red line is to end at Hadassah University Hospital, Ein Karem, by 2019. The campus line is to be completed by 2020, passing through Hebrew University’s Mount Scopus campus via Hadassah Mount Scopus and linking up to the red line. These expansions to the red line will take it from the existing 9 kilometers up to 23 kilometers, at an expected cost of NIS 2.5 billion. All the extensions to the red line have statutory approval with the exception of the Mount Scopus stops. With the new stops, the light rail is expected to have 250,000 travelers a day, up from the current 140,000. Work on additional lines would begin in the decades that Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

follow. The green line would go from the Mount Scopus campus via French Hill, Eshkol Boulevard, the central bus station and Givat Ram, ending in Gilo. Statutory planning for this line is expected to begin at the end of 2013. The blue line will go from Ramot to Gilo, with a fork out to Malha. These two lines are supposed to be completed by 2025, at an investment of NIS 12 billion. The final part of the plan is still being reviewed, and calls for adding another three lines – a brown line in East Jerusalem, a purple line from Ein Karem to Talpiot via Malha, and another line from the Kotel to Givat Ram via the city center. These lines would cost an estimated NIS 8.5 billion to build. (Haaretz 22 September 2013) • Israeli settlers with military escort invade and toured in the court yard of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem city and preformed Talmudic rituals. Clashes erupted between Palestinians and the Israeli settlers. (Paltoday 23 September 2013) • In the last 7 months, the Israeli Occupation Authorities handed out more than 50 military orders to demolish Palestinian houses in Kafr Aqab village, north of Jerusalem city, under the claim that the houses were build without licenses. (NBPRS 23 September 2013) • Clashes erupted between Palestinians and the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) at Kabsah area, located between Al-Eizariyah and Abu Dis town, east of Jerusalem city. The IOA fired teargas and stun grenades at Palestinians, causing dozens of suffocation cases and the injury of a Palestinian. During the clashes, the IOA arrested five Palestinians. (Quds Net & Raya 24 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) assaulted and injured two Palestinians while they were walking at Al-Wad Street in the old city of Jerusalem. (SilwanIC 24 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) assaulted and injured five Palestinians and detained for hours one of them, while they were near An Israeli Police center in Jabal Al-Mukaber neighborhood in Jerusalem city. One of the Palestinians was identified as Sohaeb Baseem Abu Jamal (22 years),(SilwanIC 24 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) closed Al-Magharba and Al-Hadid gates in the old city of Jerusalem and prevented Palestinians from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque. (Raya 24 September 2013) • Traditional Jerusalem Marches and Parade Tuesday. The traditional international marches for the intermediate days of the Sukkot (Tabernacles) holiday are scheduled for Tuesday from various spots in the Judean Hills to Sacher Park in Jerusalem. Tens of thousands of marchers from about 30 countries are expected to take part on the various march routes which got underway between 7:00 and 8:00 a.m. Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

leading a festive parade starting at 3:30 p.m. will be giant figures representing Noah's Ark, Popeye, Pluto and other surprises, including floats and performers. The parade route is along Betzalel and Hillel Streets, ending up at King David Street. (Israel National News 24 September 2013) • Jerusalem's Old City buildings crumbling, yet residents stay. The 29 families living in the two buildings blame water leaks for undermining the foundations. Jerusalem Water Company rejects the charges. Twenty-eight Palestinian families and one Jewish family are living in adjoining buildings in Jerusalem’s Old City that have been deemed too dangerous to inhabit. For the past two weeks, the families have had to contend with huge cracks in their walls, shifting doorposts and sinking floors. The residents claim that water leaks and infrastructure work by Gihon, Jerusalem’s water company, is at fault, but the company denies this. To add insult to injury, the residents say, emergency repairs they’ve made on the buildings have drawn the wrath of the Israel Antiquities Authority, which has warned them against harming the old buildings, which are slated for preservation. Although the municipality has condemned some parts of the two- and three-storey structures, located on Al-Qirami Street in the Muslim Quarter, and has issued evacuation orders to the residents, all are still living there because they have no place to go. Two weeks ago, as 12-year-old Ismail Asmar was leaving his home, a large stone fell from the lintel at the entrance and just missed injuring him. He called his parents and asked them to come down. When his father, Hitam Asmar, began descending the stairs, “I felt as if they weren’t the same stairs. I started to look around and saw cracks everywhere,” he said. Soon cracks began to appear throughout the Asmars’ apartment, and the floor in the front of the home sank more than 15 centimeters. The arched entranceway also began to crack, and only the swift erection of a metal and wood construction prevented it from totally collapsing and trapping them in the apartment. The Asmar family soon learned they were not alone and that all of their immediate neighbors were suffering similar problems. In the apartment on top of them, the sky is visible through large cracks that have opened in the ancient, vaulted ceiling, while, in an adjacent apartment that was recently renovated, stairs have broken, the angle of the walls has changed, plaster is peeling, the doorposts are crooked and the doors no longer close. At first the residents thought there had been an earthquake, but that possibility was quickly dismissed. They then considered whether the homes were being affected by archeological digs in the area, but discovered that no digs were going on anywhere near them. The residents now say that there had been Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

several bursts in the water pipes that run under their street. Because their buildings are some hundreds of years old and were built without concrete or foundations, the water has swept away soil under the buildings and severely undermined their stability, they say. The Gihon water company denies any connection between the pipes and what has happened to the houses. The company has repaired pipes in Al-Qirami Street, but the shifting continues and new cracks appear in the structures every day. Despite the bleak situation, all the residents are remaining in their apartments, though some families have abandoned the rooms where the largest cracks have appeared. Asmar has opened another exit to his house, “as an emergency exit, so that if there’s a collapse we’ll have where to run,” he said. “It’s scary to live here, but we are laborers earning NIS 5,000 [a month] said Asmar’s neighbor, Mohiv Hijazi. “We have nowhere to go.” One homeowner, an elderly carpentry owner named Sadi Sa’id Ahmed, said that for two years he has been hearing water bubbling under his floor, but he was treated contemptuously when he called Gihon. The residents have also noticed escalating water bills over the past two years. Repairing the homes will require their partial demolition and very careful work, since the houses have historic value and are marked for preservation. Days after the cracks started to appear, the residents, at their own expense, erected a metal scaffold to help stabilize the buildings. This brought Antiquities Authority inspectors to the area who warned them against harming the historic stones. “They’re coming down on us from all directions – from the municipality, from Gihon, from the Antiquities Authority,” said Asmar. “We’re in danger here and nobody cares. We’re orphans.” The Jerusalem Municipality said in response: “In this case, teams of Jerusalem Municipality employees examined all the buildings on Haladiyeh and Qirami streets in the Old City. The findings showed that in some of the buildings cracks were created because of sinking foundations. Given this, a number of rooms were condemned in three different apartments, two of which are occupied. “In one apartment, there are other rooms that were certified safe and are serving as the family residence, while in the second, who houses a family of 13 people, an offer was made to move the family to a nearby hotel, but they refused. In addition, the owners of the dangerous buildings on these streets were sent notices warning them of the risks posed by their structures and demanding that they repair the buildings and strengthen the foundations so as to remove the danger.” Gihon responded by saying, “The cracks in buildings are not related to the leak dealt with in the middle of the street by a Gihon team. The cracks have existed for some time and are in the back of the building, where Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

there is no water pipe infrastructure at all.” (Haaretz 24 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) stormed a Palestinian school in the old city of Jerusalem and tried to arrest Palestinian students. The IOA erected a checkpoint at Al-Wad Street in the city. (Paltoday 25 September 2013) • The Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) attacked a non-violent protest at Bab Al-Amoud area in Jerusalem city. The IOA closed the area, and prevented Palestinians from entering the old city of Jerusalem. Clashes erupted between Palestinians and the IOA, where the IOA assaulted Palestinians causing the injury of four people, and arrested ten others (Maannews 25 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) stormed the court yard of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem city, fired teargas and stuns grenades at Palestinians and assaulted them. The IOA evacuated Palestinians from the court yard of the mosque and allowed Israeli settlers to storm and tour in the mosque. (Sama News 25 September 2013) • Israeli settlers set up a number of tents and containers on Palestinian land in Al-Jabal area in Abu Dis town, east of Jerusalem city, and raised Israeli flags. (Al-Quds 25 September 2013) • More than 400 Israeli settlers toured in Al-Qarmi neighborhood in the old city of Jerusalem, and performed Talmudic rituals. As a result, clashes erupted between Palestinians and the Israeli settlers. (SilwanIC 26 September 2013) • Israeli settlers with military escort stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem city from Bab Al-Magharbah, and performed Talmudic rituals. (Sama News 26 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation bulldozers razed Palestinian land around Clef hotel in Abu Dis town, east of Jerusalem city. The targeted land is owned by Ayad family. (Al-Quds 26 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) stormed and searched a Palestinian house owned by Yassin As-Silwadi in Batten Al-Hawa neighborhood in Silwan town in Jerusalem city. The IOA assaulted and injured Yahya As-Silwadi (SilwanIC 27 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) assaulted a Palestinian journalist while he was in Al-Issawiya town in Jerusalem. (SilwanIC 27 September 2013) • Clashes erupted between Palestinians and the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) in Qalandyia refugee camp, north of Jerusalem city. The IOA fired live bullets, teargas and stun grenades at Palestinians, causing dozens of suffocation cases. (Wafa 27 September 2013) Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

• Clashes erupted between Palestinians and the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) at the northern entrance of Ar-Ram town, north of Jerusalem city. (Wafa 27 September 2013) • Two Palestinians were injured and dozens suffered gas inhalation during clashes that erupted between Palestinians and the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) in Al-Eizariya town, east of Jerusalem city. The IOA fired rubber bullets, wastewater, teargas and stun grenades at Palestinians. (Paltoday 27 September 2013) • Clashes erupted between Palestinians and the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) in Abu Dis town, after a group of Palestinians destroyed a part of the Israeli Segregation wall. The IOA fired rubber bullets, teargas and stun grenades, causing dozens of suffocation cases. (Maannews 27 September 2013) • Clashes erupted between Palestinians and the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) in Jabal Al-Mukabir neighborhood in Jerusalem city. (Maannews 27 September 2013) • Clashes erupted between Palestinians and the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) at Bab Al-Amoud area in Jerusalem city. The IOA fired rubber bullets, teargas and stun grenades at Palestinians, causing dozens of suffocation cases and the injury of a Palestinian journalist, identified as: Ahmed Gharabla. (Maannews 27 September 2013) • More than 25 Palestinians were injured and dozens suffered gas inhalation, during clashes that erupted between Palestinians and the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) in Shufat refugee camp in Jerusalem city. The IOA fired rubber and live bullets, teargas and stun grenades at Palestinians. During the clashes, undercover Israeli Army kidnapped four Palestinians; three of the arrestees were identified as: Mohammad Da’ini, Azz Ad-Diyn Al-Kari and Mohammad Al-Faqih. (Maannews 27 September 2013) • Israeli settlers assaulted two Palestinian school girls from Silwan town in Jerusalem city, while they were in Ash-Sharaf neighborhood in the old city of Jerusalem. The Palestinians were identified as: Ghada Abu Rmilah and Thikra Abu Rmilah. (RB2000 28 September 2013) • Clashes erupted between Palestinians and the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) in Abu Dis town, east of Jerusalem city. The IOA fired teargas and stun grenades at Palestinians, causing dozens of suffocation cases. (Quds Net 29 September 2013) • Israeli settlers destroyed 8 Palestinian vehicles in Ash-Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in Jerusalem city. (Wafa 29 September 2013) • Israeli settlers living in Ramot settlement destroyed a Palestinian carwash and stole its tools in An-Nabi Samuil village, north of Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

Jerusalem city. The targeted carwash is owned by Anas Abed. (Wafa 29 September 2013) • Israeli settlers with military escort invaded and toured in the court yard of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem city. During the operation, the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) at the entrance of Al-Aqsa Mosque, stopped Palestinians and checked their ID cards. (Quds Net 29 September 2013) • Israeli settlers stormed a Christian Cemetery in An-Nabi Daoud village, southwest of the Old city of Jerusalem, and destroyed 15 gravestones. (Quds Net 29 September 2013)

• Caught on tape || Recording reveals East Jerusalem park is about politics, not environment. Parks Authority staff member was recorded as saying that the Mount Scopus Slopes Park, between the Palestinian neighborhoods of Isawiyah and A-Tur, is meant to prevent construction in the area rather than protect nature. An Israel Nature and Parks Authority staff member was recorded as saying that the main reason for the establishment of the Mount Scopus Slopes Park in East Jerusalem is to prevent construction in the area and not to protect nature. Although the park has not yet been officially established, over the past year the INPA has been carrying out a number of activities in the area, including razing agricultural structures and fences belonging to Palestinians and building roads. During the Sukkot holiday, the authority also put up an information booth about the future park at the Mount Scopus lookout. A visitor recorded an INPA employee at the booth saying: “The idea is to protect all the slopes as open space. Especially to block construction so the city does not expand to [the open space], so the communities do not expand to it.” The staffer said the area “is a habitat for all kinds of animals. It creates a corridor that leaves us the view of the whole ascent to Jerusalem. From a historical point of view this is a pilgrimage road.” The controversial park is to extend between the Palestinian neighborhoods of Isawiyah and A-Tur, in areas slated for the expansion of those neighborhoods. According to the Palestinians and leftist activists, the only purpose of the new park is to stop plans to expand Palestinian communities and the park will leave them almost no room to build. The area planned for the national park is now used mainly as grazing land and activists say it contains no valuable natural or archaeological elements worthy of protection. The area includes rocky slopes on both sides of the new road to Ma’aleh Adumim, only one small, insignificant archaeological site and no special species of plants or animals. However, the INPA claims that there are many elements of the area that should be protected. The Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

former environmental protection minister Gilad Erdan said at the time that the park was needed to protect “archaeological findings, rare plants and valuable heritage elements found in it.” Archaeologist Yoni Mizrahi, of Emek Shaveh, an organization that opposes the establishment of the park, says of the employee’s statements: “She says what she sees. She sees that there is nothing there; if there were something there would be no need to ask. Nobody asks ‘why is a national park at Masada needed.’ There are antiquities in Pisgat Ze’ev [a Jewish neighborhood east of Jerusalem] and the Malha Mall and nobody goes and declares them a national park. The authorities find it convenient to declare it a national park to avoid political criticism, but in the end this is a political park.” The INPA responded: “Jerusalem is located geographically between the woodlands and the Judean Desert. In Emek Tzurim [a national park on the west side of Mount Scopus] millions of shekels have been invested in caring for the terraced landscape, ancient trails and olive trees, all in order to restore an ancient landscape to the park and also to allow people to live in an open area. National parks or nature reserves are declared throughout the country and one of the purposes is to preserve nature and not to allow construction, as was done for example on the Carmel, Mount Meron and elsewhere. This is the case throughout the country and not only in Jerusalem. We reiterate that one of the goals of the INPA is to identify areas with valuable nature and heritage resources and prevent construction there, as was done at Khirbet Qeiyafa above the Elah Valley, where a national park was declared that will obviate the construction of more than 1,200 housing units at Ramat Beit Shemesh. The same law [applies] for everyone.” (Haaretz 29 September 2013) • Israeli settlers with military escort stormed and toured in the court yard of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem city. (Wafa 30 September 2013)

• The Israeli Occupation forces handed a order to several residents in Al- Sa’dyeh neighborhood in the old city of Jerusalem that enables them to break in the houses and ascend the roofs when necessary and threatened to arrest and assault anybody that objects the order. Locals explained that they were surprised when the Israeli forces and intelligence broke into several houses in Oqbat Darwish in Al-Sa’dyeh neighborhood and handed out an order that enables the forces to break in the locals’ houses at any time, and without having the right to object. The Israeli Occupation forces are ascending the roofs of the houses in the old city and turning them into military points whenever clashes erupted in the neighborhoods in the old city of Jerusalem. (SilwanIC 30 September 2013) Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

Hebron

• Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) prevented Palestinian activists from reaching to Al-Rajabee building in the old city of Hebron, and assaulted them. (Wattan 1 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) attacked Palestinian farmers, and destroyed and confiscated their vegetables stalls at the bypass road which link between Bethlehem and Hebron governorates. (PNN 1 September 2013)

• Israeli Occupation Authorities started the expansion of Negohot settlement by adding 250 new housing units to the southern part of the settlement. This aimed to link Negohot settlement with the Israeli cities inside the Green line, and this will isolate Dura town from Hebron governorate. (ARN 1 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Authorities handed out military orders to stop the construction in four Palestinian houses and an agricultural barracks in Ma’ala area, east of Ad-Dhahiriya town, south of Hebron city, under the claim that the houses build with licenses. The targeted houses and barracks are owned by: Fakhri Izzat Abu Sharakh, Jamel Sadiq At-Tal, Amjad Arif Abu Sharakh, Talal Fathi Abu Sharakh and Suliman Abu Sharakh. (Maannews 2 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Authorities handed out military order to demolish a number of barracks, agricultural and animal structures in Al-Basa area, west of Idhna town, west of Hebron city. The targeted structures are owned by Khalil Yousif An-Nattah. (RB2000 2 September 2013)

• The excuses Israel comes up with to destroy Palestinian villages. The absence of a Palestinian human right to have two domiciles will be one of the arguments to be presented to Supreme Court justices by state attorneys on Monday, in an attempt to uphold the destruction of eight villages south of Hebron. “Our Bibi has three houses, three houses does our Bibi have,” sang social protest demonstrators two years ago, paraphrasing a well-known children’s song in reference to his villa in Caesarea and two apartments in Jerusalem. No one is arguing that the Netanyahu family’s house in Caesarea obviates their right to live in Jerusalem or, conversely, that the Jerusalem apartments negate their Caesarea-ness. No lawyer would present a baseless claim stating that there is a conflict between Netanyahu’s rights of residence and the number of locations at which he owns real estate. However, according to state attorneys, a photo of a house or an address in the town of Yatta negates the right to continue living in a cave or a small tent in the small Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

village of Al Markaz, in the southern part of the West Bank. The absence of a Palestinian human right to have two domiciles will be one of the arguments to be presented to Supreme Court justices by state attorneys on Monday, in an attempt to uphold the destruction of eight villages south of Hebron: Mjaz, Taban, Spay, Fakhit, Hallawa, Al Markaz, Jinba and Kharuba. This point will be concealed behind the pretense that the main issue underlying the petition filed with the High Court of Justice is which came first, the human beings and their villages or an army firing range. Aner Helman and Yitzhak Bart, two lawyers from the State Prosecutor’s Office, are signed on the response to the two petitions against the destruction of these villages and the expulsion of their residents - one by the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) and the other by attorney Shlomo Lecker. They have produced aerial photographs, research and reports by the Civil Administration in the attempt to prove that the plaintiffs are not only a bunch of invaders into an area that was designated by the army as a firing range, but liars as well. Attorney Tamar Feldman from ACRI disputes the argument that the core issue of the petition revolves around the truth or falsity of the facts. In a preliminary response to the state’s arguments that were presented to the court, Feldman wrote that “the crux of the issue is whether the respondents to the petition have the authority to expel the plaintiffs and their families from their homes, and if so, whether implementation of this authority is reasonable under the circumstances.” Nevertheless, it is fascinating to read how Feldman uses the very material brought by the state to demonstrate that the truth is exactly the opposite of what the state claims, and that in fact these shepherd-farmer villages preceded the firing range by dozens of years. The presence there of these inhabitants was not seasonal, as argued by the state. (Haaretz 2 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) invaded several neighborhoods in Hebron city, and Ad-Dhahiriyah, Ash-Shioukh and Sa’ir towns in Hebron governorate. (Safa 3 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Authorities handed out a military order to demolish 170 square meters house inhabited by 6 family members, in Jourit Salem area, north of Idhna town, west of Hebron city. The targeted house is owned by Hani Khalil Awawdah. (Maannews 3 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) set up sudden checkpoints at the entrances of Hebron city and Al-Fawar refugee camp in Hebron Governorate. (Safa 3 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Authorities decided to close Al-Ibrahimi mosque in the old city of Hebron, on the 4th and 5th of September 2013, in the face Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

of Palestinians, under the claim that in these days Jewish will celebrate the Hebrew New Year. (Maannews 3 September 2013) • Israel should seek mediation on expelling Palestinians in firing zone, High Court says. Eight West Bank villages have been in guns’ sights for more than a decade; state to respond to the proposal after Sukkot. The Israeli government should engage in mediation with Palestinians threatened with evacuation from their West Bank homes rather than continue presenting its case in court, Supreme Court President Asher Grunis proposed Monday, in the latest round of a dispute that has been underway for more than a decade. Grunis suggested that retired Supreme Court Justice Yitzhak Zamir serve as mediator between the state and the Palestinians living in an area in the southern Hebron Hills that the army wants to use as a firing zone. The state said it would respond to the proposal after the Sukkot holiday in late September. “We’re talking about 1,000 people, 170 families who are living in eight historic villages,” said Tamar Feldman, counsel for the Association for Civil Rights in Israel. “These families live in caves or beside them, on private land that belonged to their ancestors. The petitioners, who live a lifestyle of livestock grazing and agriculture, are asking the court for a simple thing – to stay in their villages.” The courtroom was packed with the petitioners themselves, who want the army to drop its plan to evict them and close off the area to civilians, as well as activists on their behalf and reporters and diplomats who are monitoring developments in the case. The state’s attorneys reiterated their arguments from last month as to why the area is needed for training, saying the decision to demolish the eight villages in the area designated by the army as Firing Zone 918 was made by the defense minister. The state also wanted to make a presentation showing that the petitioners had not lived at the site before it was declared a firing zone in 1980, but Grunis suggested that instead the state go to mediation because this was “a special case.” Last month, as part of its response to the High Court petitions filed in January, the state wrote that one reason the Israel Defense Forces wants to expel the residents is to save time and money. Leaving the villagers there, the state said, “means doing away with the firing zone. As a result, units that come for training at the Nahal Brigade training base will be forced to train in firing zones far from the base, which will significantly undermine the effectiveness of the exercises, involve extremely high costs and lead to a loss of precious training time.” The petitions in this case were originally filed in 2000 by residents of the eight villages currently fighting to live in the army-designated firing zone, in addition to residents of four more villages who were recently informed they could stay in their homes. The court said the remaining Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

eight villages had to file their petitions again, which they did in January of this year. (Haaretz 3 September 2013) • Clashes erupted between Palestinians and the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) in Al-Fawar refugee camp, south of Hebron city. The IOA fired teargas grenades at Palestinians. (PNN 4 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Authorities expressed its intention to size a room in Al-Anbar area in Al-Ibrahimi mosque in Hebron city, under the claim that the IOA planned to put electronic doors in this room. (Raya 4 September 2013) • Israeli settlers with military escort assaulted and injured a Palestinian child; Shatha Ishaq Ramadan (12 years) and his father, in Tal Al- Ramidiyah neighborhood in Hebron city. (NBPRS 4 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) set up military checkpoints at Halhul Bridge and at the southern entrance of Hebron city near Beit Haje settlement. The IOA stopped and searched Palestinian vehicles and checked ID cards. (PNN 4 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) set up a military checkpoint at Halhul Bridge, north of Hebron city. The IOA stopped and searched Palestinian vehicles and checked ID cards. (Safa 5 September 2013)

• Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) invaded Al-Fawwar refugee camp, south of Hebron city, and clashed erupted between Palestinians and the IOA. The IOA fired rubber bullets, teargas and stun grenades at Palestinians and houses causing dozens of suffocation cases. In related news, the IOA installed a sudden roadblock near bypass road #60, north of Hebron, stopped and searched Palestinian vehicles, and interrogated the residents before kidnapping a college student identified as Sobhi Ali Jawabra (20 years). The army also installed a roadblock in Tarama area, south of Hebron, and also searched dozens of vehicles and interrogated the residents. (IMEMC 6 September 2013) • Two Palestinian workers were injured after the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) opened fire at them while they were near the segregation wall in the southern part of Hebron governorate. The Palestinians were identified as: Ali Farhan Abu Zahra (19 years) and Nour Ad-Diyan Nabel Abu Ali (21 years). (ARN 8 September 2013) • Israeli Settlers living in Maon settlement uprooted 40 olive trees in At- Tawani village, east of Yatta town, south of Hebron city. The targeted trees are owned by Rabeei’ family. (Maannews 8 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Authorities decided to close Al-Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron city, on the 10th of September 2013, to allow Israeli settlers the celebration of Repentance holiday. (Sama News 9 September 2013) Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

• Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) prevented Palestinian workers from re- building a house owned by Mufid Al-Sharbit in Ash-Shuhada’ Street in the central of Hebron city, and prevented building materials from accessing to the area. During the operation the IOA assaulted and injured Imad Al-Atrash and arrested Mufid Al-Sharbati, after forcing his to demolish a bathroom. (Maannews 10 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Authorities handed out a military order to demolish a Palestinian house in Wadi An-Naqa area in Idhna town, west of Hebron city. The targeted house is owned by Ziad Abd Al-Aziz Mohammad Al-Batran. (Maannews 10 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) handed out a military order to remove fence surrounded a Natural reserve located between Al-Fakhit, Halawah and Janba villages, east of Yatta town south of Hebron city. The fence was established and funded by Organization of the United Nations Food and Agriculture (FAO). (PNN 11 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) erected military checkpoints at the entrances of Dura, Yatta, Halhul and Sair villages and in several neighborhoods in Hebron city. The IOA stopped and searched Palestinian vehicles and checked ID cards. (Al-Quds 11 September 2013) • Clashes erupted between Palestinians and the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) in Beit Ummer town, north of Hebron city. The IOA fired metal bullets, teargas and stun grenades at Palestinians, causing dozens of suffocation cases and the injury of two people. The IOA also, assaulted and injured Palestinians, and destroyed vehicles. During the clashes, and Israeli settler opened fire at Palestinians. (Wafa 12 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) erected military checkpoints in several neighborhoods in Hebron city and at the entrance of Halhul town. The IOA stopped and searched Palestinian vehicles and checked ID cards. (Wafa 12 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) decided to close the Ibrabimi Mosque in Hebron city on the 13th and 14th of September 2013, to allow the Israeli settlers to celebrate Kippur day. (Sama News 12 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) assaulted and injured Nabela Abu Dayah (29 years) after storming her house in Beit Ummer town, north of Hebron city. The IOA fired stun grenade inside the house to prevent residents from helping her. (Maannews 13 September 2013) • Clashes erupted between Palestinians and the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) at the entrance of Al-Fawwar refugee camp, south of Hebron city. The IOA fired rubber bullets, teargas and stun grenades at Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

Palestinians causing dozens of suffocation cases. (Sama News 13 September 2013) • Clashes erupted between Palestinians and the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) in Beit Ummer town, north of Hebron city. The IOA fired teargas and stun grenades causing dozens of suffocation cases. (Sama News 13 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Authorities started to expand Eshtemoa outpost by put fence around 5 dunums of Palestinian land in As-Samu’ town, south of Hebron city. (Al-Quds Net 13 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Authorities issued military orders to evacuate 218 dunums of Palestinian land in several areas in Kharas village, northwest of Hebron city, under the claim that the land was classified as “State Land”. (Al-Quds 13 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) prevented Palestinian farmers and international activists from reaching to their land in Wadi Al-Rakhim area near Susiya settlement, south of Hebron city, under the claim that the IOA declared the area as “close military zone”. (Al-Ayyam 14 September 2013) • Two Palestinian workers were seriously injured after the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) fired a bomb at them while they were in Al- Ramadeen area, south of Hebron city. The injury Palestinians were identified as: Nash’at Nimir Suliman Bashir (23 years) and Sari Khalid Nimir Suliman Bashir (21 years). (Wafa 15 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) stormed and searched several Palestinian houses in Yatta town, south of Hebron city. (Paltoday 18 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) stormed and searched a Palestinian house in Beit Ula town, northwest of Hebron city, and destroyed the furniture. The IOA detained all the residents in a small room and assaulted them. During the operation, the IOA summoned Ahmed Abd Al-Rahman to interview the Israeli Intelligence Police in Gush Etzion settlement bloc. (Al-Quds 18 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) erected military checkpoints at the entrances of Sair, Halhul towns, Al- Fawar refugee camp and Hebron city. The IOA stopped and searched Palestinian vehicles and checked ID cards. (Paltoday 18 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) stormed and searched Al-Mahed Company for car maintenance in Fursh Al-Hawa area, west of Hebron city. (Safa 19 September 2013) • Clashes erupted between Palestinians and the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) in Al-Fawwar refugee camp, south of Hebron city. The IOA fired teargas and stun grenades at Palestinians. (Safa 19 September 2013) Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

• Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) occupied and seized a Palestinian house consist of 4 storey near the Ibrahimi mosque in Hebron city, and prevented the owners from entering the house, and transferred it to military base. The targeted house is owned by Issa Abu Mayallah. (Sama News 19 September 2013) • Clashes erupted between Palestinians and the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) in Hebron city. The IOA fired rubber bullets, teargas and stun grenades at Palestinians causing dozens of suffocation cases. (Wafa 19 September 2013) • Palestinian child; Janan Makram Al-Rajabi (6 years) was injured after an Israeli settler ran over her in Hebron city. (Safa 19 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) erected military checkpoints at the entrances of Hebron city and at Halhul Bridge. The IOA stopped and searched Palestinian vehicles and checked ID cards. (Safa 19 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Authorities decided to close Al-Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron city on the 23rd and 24th of September 2013, in the face of Palestinians, to allow the Israeli settlers to stormed the mosque and to celebrate Sukkot day. (Paltoday 19 September 2013) • Israeli settlers with military escort stormed Beir Haram Al-Rami area in Hebron city, and preformed Talmudic rituals. (Safa 20 September 2013) • Israeli settlers with military escort gathered at the entrance of Al- Arroub refugee camp, south of Hebron city and preformed Talmudic rituals and chanted anti Palestinian slogans. Clashes erupted between Palestinians and the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA), where the IOA fired teargas and stun grenades. (Paltoday 20 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) invaded and searched several areas in Hebron city. The IOA intensified its presence around the Ibrahimi Mosque in the old city of Hebron. (Safa 21 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) erected military checkpoints at the entrances of Sair, Halhul, Bani Naim towns in Hebron governorate. The IOA stopped and searched Palestinian vehicles and checked ID cards. (Safa 21 September 2013) • Clashes erupted between Palestinians and the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) at Bab Az-Zawiya area in the central of Hebron city. The IOA fired rubber bullets, teargas and stun grenades at Palestinians, causing dozens of suffocation cases and the injury of 17 people, one of them was identified as Nimir Mohammad Salimah (22 years). (Maannews 22 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) occupied a Palestinian house in Al- Baq’a area, in Hebron city and transformed it to a military base. The Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

targeted house is owned by Salem As-Salimah. (Al-Quds 22 September 2013) • Israeli settlers living in Kiryat Arba’ settlement attacked and hurled stones at Palestinian houses in Hebron city. (Safa 22 September 2013) • Israeli settlers living in Maon settlement uprooted 10 olive trees in Al- Hamra area in At-Tawani village, east of Yatta town south of Hebron city, and chanted anti Palestinian slogans. The targeted trees are owned by Fadil Jubrail Rabee’ (50 years). (Wattan 22 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) erected military checkpoints at the southern entrance of Hebron city and at the entrance of Al-Fawwar refugee camp. The IOA stopped and searched Palestinian vehicles and checked ID cards. (Al-Quds 22 September 2013) • Clashes erupted between Palestinians and the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) in Hebron city. The IOA fired rubber bullets, teargas and stun grenades at Palestinians, causing dozens of suffocation cases and the injury of 11 people. During the clashes, the IOA stormed and searched several houses near the Ibrahimi mosque in Hebron city, and detained Palestinians. (Wafa 23 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) assaulted and injured Hussen Al- Shawaheen (25 years) from Al-Karml village, east of Yatta town, south of Hebron city. During the operation, the Israeli settlers with military escort toured in the village and chanted anti Palestinian slogans. (Raya 23 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) closed the main entrance of Beit Einun village, north of Hebron city. (Wafa 23 September 2013) • Clashes erupted between Palestinians and the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) at Ash-Shalal area in the central of Hebron city, and near the Ibrahimi mosque in the old city of Hebron. The IOA fired ruber bullets, teargas and stun grenades at Palestinians, causing dozens of suffocation cases. (Paltoday 24 September 2013) • Israeli settlers assaulted and injured Awni Imad Aby Shamsiyah (13 years) in Tal Al-Ramidiya neighborhood in Hebron city. (Wattan 24 September 2013) • Israeli settlers occupied a Palestinian house owned by Abu Rajab family near the Ibrahimi Mosque in the old city of Hebron. (Maannews 24 September 2013) • Israeli settlers with military escort stormed An-Nabi Saleh Tomb in Idhna town, west of Hebron city, and preformed Talmudic rituals. (Paltoday 24 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) closed the main entrance of Beit Ummer town, north of Hebron city. The IOA stormed and searched several houses, and arrested a Palestinian. (Wattan 25 September 2013) Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

• Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) raided and searched Palestinian houses in the southern part of Hebron city. (Wattan 25 September 2013) • Clashes erupted between Palestinians and the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) in Hebron city. The IOA fired rubber bullets, teargas and stun grenades at Palestinians, causing dozens of suffocation cases and the injury of 21 people. (Maannews 25 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) erected a military checkpoint in Dura town, west of Hebron city. The IOA stopped and searched Palestinian vehicles and checked ID cards. (Sama News 26 September 2013) • More than 15 Palestinians; included a five-years child, were injured and dozens suffered gas inhalation during clashes that erupted between Palestinians and the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) at the entrance of Al-Fawar refugee camp, south of Hebron city. The IOA fired rubber bullets, teargas and stun grenades at Palestinians. During the clashes, the IOA stormed houses and occupied their roofs. (Maannews 27 September 2013) • About 16 Palestinians were injured and dozens suffered gas inhalation during clashes that erupted between Palestinians and the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) in several areas in Hebron city. The IOA fired rubber bullets, teargas and stun grenades at Palestinians. (Al-Quds 27 September 2013) • Clashes erupted between Palestinians and the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) in Halhul town, north of Hebron city. The IOA fired rubber bullets, teargas and stun grenades causing dozens of suffocation cases and the injury of two people. (Al-Quds 27 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) stormed Al-Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron city, and fired teargas grenades at Palestinian houses, causing dozens of suffocation cases. Clashes erupted between Palestinians and the IOA. (Safa 29 September 2013) • Clashes erupted between Palestinians and the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) in Al-Fawar refugee camp, south of Hebron city. The IOA fired teargas and stun grenades at Palestinians, causing dozens of suffocation cases. (Safa 29 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) demolished a tent erected by a group of Palestinian activists to support a Palestinian prisoner in the Israeli jail; Mahmoud Al-Sharha, in Dura town, west of Hebron city. (Wafa 29 September 2013)

Qalqilyah

• Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) attacked a non-violent protest in Kafr Qaddum village, east of Qalqilyah city. The IOA rubber bullets teargas Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

and stun grenades at Palestinians, causing dozens of suffocation cases. (Wafa 5 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) attacked the weekly non-violent protest against the segregation wall and settlements in Kafr Qaddum village, east of Qalqilyah city. The IOA fired teargas and stun grenades at Palestinians, causing dozens of suffocation cases and the injury of three Palestinian journalists; were identified as: Muran Ishtiyah, Ja’far Ishtiyah and Ala Badrnih. (Al-Quds 6 September 2013) • Israeli settlers with military escort razed tens dunums of agricultural land in Salem village, east of Nablus city, and opened fire at Palestinians to prevent them from reaching to the area. During the operation, the IOA closed the eastern gate of the village and prevented Palestinians and journalists from entering the village, and detained and assaulted two people. (Sama News & Wafa 12 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) and Israeli Civil administration invaded and Palestinian land in Izbet Jal’ud village, south of Qalqilyah city, and uprooted olive trees. (Maannews 12 September 2013) • A Palestinian; Nasfat Mahmoud Ishtiyah (25 years), was injured after the IOA attacked the weekly non-violent protest against the Segregation wall and settlements in Kafr Qaddum village, east of Qalqilyah city. The IOA fired teargas and stun grenades at Palestinians and houses causing dozens of suffocation cases. (ARN 13 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) attacked the weekly non-violent protest against the segregation wall and settlements in Kafr Qaddum village, east of Qalqilyah city. The IOA fired teargas and stun grenades at participants causing dozens of suffocation cases and the injury of 7 people. (Al-Quds 20 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) invaded and searched several houses in Beit Amin village, south of Qalqilyah city, and arrested six Palestinians. The IOA closed all the village entrance and prevented Palestinians from leaving or entering the village. The arrestees were identified as: Bassam Omar, Abd Al-Salam Omar, Ali Omar, Ibrahim Omar, Mahmoud Omar, and Abdala Omar. During the operation, the IOA demolished a part of a house and an animal barracks, and imposed a curfew on the village. (Maannews 21 September 2013) • Head of Elkana settlement located near Qalqilyah city, Tzadok Zehorai asked the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to approve the construction of 283 new housing units in the settlement. (Maariv 24 September 2013) • The Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) attacked the weekly non-violent protest against the segregation wall and settlements in Kar Qaddum Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

village, east of Qalqilyah city. The IOA fired teargas and stun grenades at participants, Palestinian houses and lands, causing dozens of suffocation cases, and the torch of tens of olive trees. (Maannews 27 September 2013) • Clashes erupted between Palestinians and the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) in Azzun village, east of Qalqilyah city. The IOA fired rubber bullets, teargas and stun grenades at Palestinians, causing dozens of suffocation cases and the injury of two people. (Maannews 27 September 2013)

Tubas

• Israeli Occupation Helicopter caused the demolition of three residential tents near Tayasir checkpoint in Tubas governorate. (Sama News 12 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Authorities ordered 9 Palestinian families (about 100 Palestinians) to evacuate their houses and the area in Khirbet Al- Burj and Khirbet Al-Metah in the northern of Jordan valley, under the claim that the Israeli Army will hold military exercises in the area. (Raya 14 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation bulldozers along with the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) demolished all the houses and structures (around 58 structures) in Khirbet Mak-houl in the northern of Jordan valley. The targeted area is inhabited by 48 Palestinians. After the operation, the IOA declared the area as “close military zone”. (Maannews & LRC 16 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Authorities confiscated two trucks and a number of tents in Khirbet Mak-houl in the northern of Jordan valley, after the IOA demolished all the structures in the area. (Wattan 17 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) closed the northern of Jordan Valley areas and Tayasir checkpoint. The IOA prevented Palestinians from crossing the checkpoint, and evacuated all the residents from Al-Meta and Al-Burj areas, under the claim of Israeli military training. (Sama News 17 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) seized tents used by the residents of Khirbet Makhool in the northern of Jordan valley, which was destroyed by the IOA on the 16th of September 2013. The Red Cross workers were still distributing tents to residents when the Israeli military force raided the site, knocked down tents and confiscated them. (Maannews 19 September 2013) Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

• Clashes erupted between Palestinians and the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) in Khirbet Al Makhoul in the northern of Jordan Valley. The IOA prevented Palestinians from re-building their houses and confiscated tents. During the clashes, the IOA closed the area, and decaled it as “close military zone”. (Safa 20 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) closed Khirbet Al-Makhol area in the northern of Jordan valley, and declared the area as “closed military zone”. (Sama News 30 September 2013)

Ramallah

• Clashes erupted between Palestinians and the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) in Al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah city. The IOA fired rubber bullets, teargas and stun grenades at Palestinians, causing dozens of suffocation cases and the injury of five people. (Maannews 1 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Authorities closed one kilometer length of agricultural road led to more than 1500 dunums of Palestinian land and razed it, in Al-Mughayyir village, northeast of Ramallah city. The targeted land located near the Israeli Bypass road Aluon and an Israeli military base. (NBPRS 4 September 2013)

• Clashes erupted between Palestinians and the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) in al Jalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah city. The IOA fired live bullets, teargas and stun grenades at Palestinians causing dozens of suffocation cases and the injury of two people. (ARN 6 September 2013)

• Dozens of Palestinian and international activists suffered gas inhalation after the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) raided the weekly non-violent protest against the segregation wall and settlements in Bilin village, northwest of Ramallah city. The IOA fired rubber bullets, teargas and stun grenades. (Maannews 6 September 2013) • Clashes erupted between Palestinians and the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) in Beituniya village, west of Ramallah city. The IOA fired bullets, teargas and stun grenades, causing dozens of suffocation cases and the injury of a Palestinian. (Paltoday 7 September 2013) • Clashes erupted between Palestinians and the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) at Ofar prison, west of Ramallah city. The IOA fired live bullets, teargas and stun grenades at Palestinians, causing dozens of suffocation cases and the injury of 12 people. (Al-Quds Net 7 September 2013) Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

• A Palestinian; Anas Fadel Mohammad Badran (19 years), was injured after an Israeli Military jeeps ran over him in Beit ‘Ur at Tahta village, west of Ramallah city. Clashes erupted between Palestinians and the IOA, where the IOA fired teargas and stun grenades. (Maannews 10 September 2013) • Israeli Settlers living in Beit El settlement hurled stones at Palestinian vehicles while they were driving near the settlement, and closed the road. As a result, the screen windows for five vehicles were destroyed (Wafa 10 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) invaded Deir Abu Mesh’al village, northwest of Ramallah city, and fired teargas and stun grenades at Palestinians and houses. (Raya 11 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) attacked the weekly non-violent protest against the Segregation wall and settlements in An-Nabi Saleh village, north of Ramallah city. The IOA fired rubber bullets, teargas and stun grenades at participants, causing dozens of suffocation cases. (Sama News 13 September 2013) • Two Palestinians were injured and dozens suffered gas inhalation, after the IOA raided the weekly non-violent protest against the Segregation wall and settlements in Bilin village, northwest of Ramallah. The IOA fired rubber bullets, teargas and stun grenades at Palestinians. (Sama News 13 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Authorities handed out 8 Palestinian families, military orders to demolish their houses in Kharbatha Al-Musbah village, west of Ramallah city, and to demolish five barracks and an industrial store. (RB2000 14 September 2013) • Israeli settlers living in Beit El settlement hurled stones at a Palestinian vehicle owned by Maan News network while it was traveling on Ramallah - Al Jalazoun road, near the settlement. (Maannews 17 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) raided and searched a Palestinian house owned by Rashad Karaja in Saffa village, west of Ramallah city, and summoned his son; Marsel (21 years), to interview the Israeli Intelligence Police on the 23rd of September 2013. (Al-Quds 18 September 2013) • Three Palestinians and an international activist were injured and dozens suffered gas inhalation after the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) attacked the weekly non-violent protest against the Segregation wall and settlements in Bilin village, west of Ramallah city. The IOA fired rubber bullets, teargas and stun grenades at participants. The injuries Palestinians were identified as: Hamza Birnat (21 years), Ismail Abu Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

Rahma (15 years) and Ashraf Al-Khateeb (31 years). (Maannews 20 September 2013) • Dozens of Palestinians suffered gas inhalation after the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) attacked the weekly non-violent protest against the segregation wall and settlements in An-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah city. The IOA fired teargas and stun grenades at Palestinians. (Al-Quds 20 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) closed with cement blocks a road link between Ramallah city and Al-Jalazoun refugee camp. Clashes erupted between Palestinians and the IOA. (Wattan 25 September 2013) • Clashes erupted between Palestinians and the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) in Al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah city. The IOA fired live bullets, teargas and stun grenades at Palestinians, causing dozens of suffocation cases and the injury of two people, were identified as: Mohammad Yousif Zamrah (24 years) and Mohammad Adnan (21 years). (Wafa 26 September 2013) • Dozens of Palestinians suffered gas inhalation after the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) attacked a non-violent protest against the Segregation wall and settlements in Nilin village, west of Ramallah city. The IOA fired teargas and stun grenades at Palestinians. (Wafa 27 September 2013) • A Palestinian journalist; Hamza Birnat (21 years), was injured and dozens suffered gas inhalation after the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) raided the weekly non-violent protest against the Segregation wall and settlements in Bilin village, northwest of Ramallah city. The IOA fired rubber bullets, teargas and stun grenades at participants. (Wafa 27 September 2013) • Clashes erupted between Palestinians and the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) near Ofra prison, west of Ramallah city. The IOA fired rubber bullets, teargas and stun grenades, causing dozens of suffocation cases and the injury of five people. (Wafa 27 September 2013) • Clashes erupted between Palestinians and the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) in Al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah city. The IOA fired rubber bullets, teargas grenades at Palestinians, causing dozens of suffocation cases and the injury of seven people. (Paltoday 27 September 2013) • The Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) attacked the weekly non-vioelnt protest against the segregation wall and settlements in An-Nabi Saleh village, north of Ramallah city. (Al-Quds 27 September 2013) • Israeli settlers living in Beit El settlement torched two Palestinian vehicles and wrote anti-Palestinian slogans on the walls in Al-Jalazoun Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

refugee camp, north of Ramallah city. The targeted vehicles are owned by Sobhe Odeh Al-Qadee. (Wafa 27 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) closed and razed an agricultural road in Al-Mughayyir village, northeast of Ramallah city. (Maannews 27 September 2013)

Jericho

• Israeli Occupation bulldozers demolished a 160 square meters house and a barracks owned by Jehad Rashidah in Fasayel village, north of Jericho city. During the operation, the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) fired teargas and stun grenades at Palestinian resident, causing dozens of suffocation cases. (Wattan 2 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) demolished a residential structure in Al-Jiftlik village, north of Jericho city. (DWG 2 September 2013)

Salfit

• Israeli Occupation bulldozers razed Palestinian land, west of Salfit, for construction new housing units in Leshim illegal settlement. The lands are located between Deir Ballout and Kufr Ad-Deek villages. Leshim was built last year on privately owned Palestinian land. A week ago, the Israeli Housing Minister, Uri Ariel, placed the corner stone of the illegal settlement. (IMEMC 1 September 2013) • Israeli settlement of Ariel continued pump wastewater at Palestinian land and between houses in Burqin village, west of Salfit city. The wastewater caused damaged in Palestinian land and the spread of diseases. (PNN 3 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation bulldozes razed Palestinian land located between Kafr Ad-Dik and Deir Ballout villages, west of Salfit city, to start the construction the new housing units for Leshem settlement. (ARN 8 September 2013) • Clashes erupted between Palestinians and the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) in Deir Istiya village, northwest of Salfit city. (PNN 8 September 2013) • Israeli Newspaper Ma'ariv, said that the Israeli settlers have marked walking trails will be open during the so-called ' parachute ' day. The newspaper said that the first track will be in the Valley of Qana, where starting from the Israeli outpost Havat Yair to Khirbet Shehadeh and end up in Ein Al-Ghozlan area, and the second track begins near the settlement of Iinab to Khirbet Samra. (Maariv & Raya 9 September 2013) Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

• Israeli occupation bulldozers and Authorities continued confiscation and razing Palestinian lands, in various towns and villages of Salfit governorate to expand settlement to construct of the new settlement neighborhood of “Leshem”, which threatening to steal three historical sites including ancient Byzantine village called Deir Samaan, northwest of Kafr Dik village, west of Salfit city. "The three archaeological sites are: Khirbet Ash-Shajara, north of Salfit, Moghour Ash-Shames and Al- Qamar, west of Salfit, and Deir Samaan archaeological village. (PNN 17 September 2013) • Israeli settlers razed land to construct a colonial road to link between Barqan settlement and “Samira” road. The targeted land located between Bruqin and Sarta villages, west of Salfit city. Clashes erupted between Palestinians and the Israeli settlers. (Raya 24 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) and bulldozers razed Palestinian land and uprooted olive trees in Dhahir Sabeh area in Sarta village, west of Salfit city. The IOA prevented Palestinians from entering the area. (Wafa 25 September 2013) • Clashes erupted between Palestinians and Israeli settlers near Sarta village, west of Salfit city, after the Israeli settlers living in Barqan settlement razed Palestinian land to construct an Israeli colonial road. (Maannews 27 September 2013) • Israeli settlers living in Ariel settlement pumped wastewater at Wadi Al-Matwe area, north of Salfit city. (Maannews 29 September 2013) • Israeli Civil administration and the Israeli Natural Authorities along with the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) started to mark more than 2326 trees in Wadi Qana area, north of Salfit city, to uproot them. (ARN 29 September 2013) • Israeli settlers living in Leshem settlement, which located between Deir Balout and Kafr Ad-Dik villages, west of Salfit city, stole stones and rocks from Deir Samman village. The Israeli crushers broke stones and rocks and transferred them to the settlement to use them in the construction of Leshem settlement. (PNN 30 September 2013)

Tulkarm

• Israeli Occupation Authorities surveyed 80 dunums of Palestinian land in Khallit An-Nassara area in Kafr Jammal village, south of Tulkarm city. The targeted land planted with olive trees, located near Salit settlement trees, and owned by Faiz Mohammad Saleh. (Wafa 16 September 2013)

Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

Nablus

• Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) invaded and searched several areas in Beita village, south of Nablus city, and fired bullets and light grenades at houses. (Maannews 1 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) closed Huwara checkpoint, south of Nablus city, and prevented Palestinian vehicles from crossing it. The IOA also, closed Yetzhar settlement road. (Maannews 1 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) stormed and searched a number of Palestinian houses in several neighborhoods in Nablus city, and arrested two Palestinians; were identified as: Khalil Ad-Dala’ and Hussam Al-Battem. (PNN 8 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation jeeps invaded Beita village, south of Nablus city, and fired teargas and stun grenades at Palestinian and houses, causing dozens of suffocation cases. During the operation, the IOA erected a military checkpoint at the entrance of the village. The IOA stopped and searches Palestinian vehicles and checked ID cards. The IOA detained and assaulted 9 Palestinians; were identified as: Imad Faleh Saleh Daoud, Adham Mohammad Bahjat Faeq, Salamah Tariq Abdeen, Raid Ja’far Fouzi Khadir, Jamal Issam Abu Aiyash, Zakariyah Mohammad Sharfah, Nouh Mohammad Sharfah, Imam Ribhi Sidqi (Maannews 8 September 2013) • Israeli settlers destroyed the screen windows for 20 Palestinian vehicles after hurling stones at them in a main road south of Nablus city. (Safa 8 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) assaulted and detained a Palestinian after stopping him at Za’tara checkpoint, south of Nablus city. (Wafa 11 September 2013) • Clashes erupted between Palestinians and the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) in Qaryut village, south of Nablus city, after the IOA attacked a non-violent protest to re-opened a road in the village, after the IOA closed it years ago. During the operation, the IOA arrested a number of Palestinian activists. (Wattan 11 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) stormed and searched several Palestinian house in Beita village, south of Nablus city. During the operation, the IOA detained a number of Palestinians. (Maannews 11 September 2013) • Israeli settlers living in Elon Moreh settlement set fire in 500 dunums of Palestinian land planted with olive trees in Jabal Ras Hazem area in Deir Hatab village, east of Nablus city. (Al-Quds 11 September 2013) Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

• Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) invaded Askar refugee camp in Nablus city. Clashes erupted between Palestinians and the IOA, where the latter fired rubber bullets, teargas and stun grenades at Palestinians, causing dozens of suffocation cases and the injury five people. During the clashes, the IOA arrested four Palestinians; three of them were identified as: Imad Abd Al-Fatah Abu Tyoun, Abd Al-Fatah Tayon and Abdalla Abu Tayoun. (Safa 12 September 2013) • Israeli settlers escorted by the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) invaded Joseph tomb in Balata refugee camp in Nablus city and performed Talmudic rituals. Clashes erupted between Palestinians and the IOA, where the IOA fired teargas and stun grenades at Palestinians, causing dozens of suffocation cases. During the operation, the IOA arrested four Palestinians; two of the arrestees were identified as: Iyad Al-Akir and Salah Muroh. (Maannews 12 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) invaded several neighborhoods in Nablus city and Balata refugee camp, and arrested a number of Palestinians. (Wafa 13 September 2013) • Israeli settlers torched an under construction house in Madama village, south of Nablus city. (Wafa 15 September 2013) • Israeli settlers opened fire at Palestinian shepherds while they were near Yanun village, southeast of Nablus city, and prevented them from entering the area. (Wafa 19 September 2013) • Israeli settlers stormed and toured in Aqraba and Yanun villages, southeast of Nablus city, carried out provocative actions and attacked Palestinian houses. During the operation, the Israeli settlers with military escort detained a Palestinian shepherd near Aqraba village. (Sama News 22 September 2013) • Israeli settlers seized and razed 20 dunums of Palestinian land in Khirbet Yanun, which located between Yanun and Aqraba villages, southeast of Nablus city. The targeted land is owned by: Adel Hamad Abu Shehab and Abu Rajee. (Maannews 23 September 2013) • Israeli settlers living in Havat Jel’ad outpost torched 350 olive trees in land located between Sarra and Tall villages, west of Nablus city. The targeted trees are owned by: Suliman Abd Al-Aziz Hamad, Omar Mustafah Samarah and Mohammad Faris. (Maannews 24 September 2013) • Israeli settlers sprayed gas on the face of Adi Issam Ad-Damiri (23 years) and hurled stones at Palestinian vehicles while they were at the entrance of Huwwara village, south of Nablus city. (Maannews 24 September 2013) • Israeli settlers escorted by the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) stormed Joseph Tomb in Nablus city and preformed Talmudic rituals. As a Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

result, clashes erupted between Palestinians and the IOA, where the IOA fired live bullets, teargas and stun grenades at Palestinians, causing dozens of suffocation cases. During the clashes, the IOA closed the southern entrance of Nablus city. (Sama News & Maannews 24 September 2013)

• New neighborhood of Har Bracha: “Arab state is not established. Hundreds attended the dedication ceremony of the new neighborhood of Har Bracha. Rabbi Eliezer Melamed: neighborhood for young couples weaving their lives in holiness and joy. Hundreds of Israelis attended the inauguration of the new neighborhood of Har Bracha settlement. The ceremony was attended by a large community and head sat, Rabbi Eliezer Melamed, chairman of the Yesha Council, the father sees the Samaria Regional Council chairman Gershon Mesika and MK Moti Yogev (Jewish Home). Rabbi Melamed said that the new neighborhood for young couples. "These houses are complete now unique, these small apartments designed for young couples to start their lives in the hope that this atmosphere of settling the land, would weave the sacred life of their marriage and begin to grow here.”We pray these houses will have the wonderful families grow map deep memories of joy and holiness and thus will later do great things for the people of Israel," said Rabbi Melamed. (Israel National News 24 September 2013) • Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian houses in Urif village, south of Nablus city. Clashes erupted between Palestinians and the Israeli settlers. (Wattan 25 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) stormed several areas in Nablus city and closed for few hours Za’tara checkpoint, south of the city. (Safa 26 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) raided Salem village, east of Nablus city and fired stun and light grenades at Palestinian houses. (Safa 26 September 2013) • Two Palestinians were injured and dozens suffered gas inhalation during clashes that erupted between Palestinians and the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) at Huwwara checkpoint, south of Nablus city. The IOA fired teargas and stun grenades at Palestinians. (Wattan 27 September 2013) • Israeli Settlers gathered at a Palestinian mountain; Jabal Qarqafih, near Jurish village, southeast of Nablus city. (Wafa 27 September 2013) • Four Palestinians were injured; two of them were identified as: Taghreed Mohammad Faris Adilee (32 years) and Fouad Adilee, and dozens suffered gas inhalation during clashes that erupted between Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

Palestinians and the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) in Osarin village, south of Nablus city. The IOA fired rubber bullets, teargas and stun grenades at Palestinians. (Maannews 29 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) invaded Beita village, south of Nablus city, and fired teargas and stun grenades at Palestinians and houses causing dozens of suffocation cases. Clashes erupted between Palestinians and the IOA. During the operation, the IOA erected a military checkpoint at the entrance of the village, and prevented Palestinians from entering or leaving the village. (Safa 29 September 2013) • Israeli settlers living in Bracha settlement attacked and fired stun grenades at Palestinian houses in Jabal As-Sabi’ area, east of Burin village, south of Nablus city. Clashes erupted between Palestinians and the Israeli settlers. (Safa 29 September 2013)

• Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) closed the eastern entrance of Aqraba village, southeast of Nablus city. (Safa 29 September 2013)

Gaza

• Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) opened fire at Palestinian houses in Ash-Shaja’iya neighborhood, east of Gaza city and Israeli bulldozers staged few meters into the eastern part of the neighborhood. (Raya 2 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation jeeps and bulldozers staged tens meters into the eastern part of Khan Youis town south of the Gaza strip, and opened fire at Palestinian houses and land. (Maannews 3 September 2013) • A Palestinian child was injured after the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) opened fire at him while he was in the eastern part Jabaliyah town north of the Gaza strip. (Wafa 5 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation Navy sized two Palestinian fishing boats while they were in Rafah shore, south of the Gaza strip. (ARN 10 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation jeeps and bulldozers staged few meters into the eastern part of Khaza’a town, east Khan Younis city south of the Gaza strip, and razed Palestinian land. (Al-Quds 12 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation gunboats opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats while they were sailing at Gaza shore. (Safa 15 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation jeeps and bulldozers staged 150 meters into the eastern part of Khaza’a village, east of Khan Younis city, south of the Gaza strip, opened fire at Palestinian houses and razed land. (Sama News 17 September 2013) Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

• Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) staged few meters into the eastern part of Jabaliya town, north of the Gaza strip. The IOA opened fire at houses and lands causing the injury of a Palestinian. (Maannews 18 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation jeeps staged few meters into the eastern part of Juhor Ad-Dik area, southeast of Gaza city and opened fire at house and land. During the operation, the IOA arrested two Palestinians and transferred them to unknown location. (Sama News 18 September 2013) • Two Palestinians were injured after the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) opened fire at them while they were at the eastern part of Jabaliya town, north of the Gaza strip. (Al-Quds 20 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation bulldozers and jeeps staged few meters into the eastern part of Deir Al-Balah town in the central of the Gaza strip, razed land and opened fire at Palestinian houses. (Paltoday 24 September 2013) • Israeli Occupation gunboats opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats while they were sailing at Rafah shore, south of the Gaza strip. (Al- Ayyam 24 September 2013) • Five Palestinians included a journalist were injured during clashes that erupted between Palestinians and the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) near the border fence, east of Gaza city. The IOA fired rubber bullets, teargas and stun grenades. (Wattan 27 September 2013)

Others

• Netanyahu: Law discriminating against women in West Bank to be amended. According to PM, controversial bill initiated by MK Stork to amend law that discriminates against women beyond Green Line will take effect by October, either by army order or by applying Israeli law on territories will the Netanyahu administration apply Israeli law in Judea and Samaria? Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced at the cabinet meeting Sunday that by the beginning of the upcoming winter session of the Knesset in October, the law discriminating between women residing within the Green Line and those residing in the territories will be amended. The Ministerial Committee on Legislative Affairs already passed a bill to this effect, yet the committee's chairwoman Justice Minister Tzipi Livni announced she has reservations about it, and Science and Technology Minister Yaakov Peri even filed an appeal against it. Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein expressed his opposition to the bill. According to him, "from a legal aspect, the accumulation of applying Israeli legislation with Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

territorial nature in this area could have international legal implications. In this context, the promotion of such proposals will have wide implications." Effectively, Weinstein explained that these actions signify annexation, which is not acceptable in international public opinion. Weinstein added that his stance in regards to the appeal is that "it should be accepted legally and the bill should be opposed. There is urgency in regulating the legal situation in Judea and Samaria. As was first reported by Ynet, a legal flaw exposes women who reside beyond the Green Line for dismissal from work in case of pregnancy and other events that involve women and mothers. According to the prime minister's statement, the amendment to the law will be carried out either by an order issued by the IDF Central Command chief, who is sovereign in terms of law and regulations in the territories, or through Knesset legislation that will correct the discrimination between women on different sides of the Green Line. In case of legislation that will be enforced in the territories, it will be a precedent since until now, the residents of Judea and Samaria were subject to the laws of the military administration. As reported on Ynet, about six months ago, Knesset Member Orit Strok (Habayit Hayehudi) submitted an amendment to the law, after it became clear that women residing in settlements and in Palestinian cities do not have Israeli labor laws applied to them. One of the women, who turned to the Industry, Trade and Labor Ministry for help after being fired for being pregnant, was told that the ministry is not authorized to help her since she lives in the West Bank. Subsequently, a special session of the Knesset committees was convened, in which the law's discrimination was examined. The prime minister is expected to announce Sunday that the matter should be dealt with within the month. According to Netanyahu, "the citizens of Israel, including those who reside in Judea and Samaria, deserve to have equal rights, and I am committed to that." He also ordered further examination of labor law differences between Israelis residing in the territories and those who live within Israeli borders. (Ynetnews 1 September 2013)

• Rosh Hashana Eve: 8.081 million Israelis. Some 75.1% of population Jews, 20.7% Arabs, 4.2% defined as ‘other.’ Past year saw 160,749 babies born; 127,052 Israelis wed, 29,616 divorced. The country grew by about 148,000 inhabitants: On New Year's Eve 5773, Israel's population stands at 8.081 million people – approximately 6.066 million of them Jews, 1.67 million Arabs and some 345,000 defined as "other." This according to data from the Central Bureau of Statistics, published on Monday. On the eve of Rosh Hashana 5773, there are Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

7.9332 million Israelis living in the country, the year before – in 5772 – there were 7.7974 million Israelis. The data indicate that 75.1% of the population are Jews, 20.7% are Arab; and 4.2% are "others,” which include Christian Arabs, other religions and those listed with no religious affiliation at the Interior Ministry. Since Rosh Hashana in the previous year, the CBS reported that Israel's population grew by 1.8%, a figure similar to previous years. Data from the Population, Immigration and Border Authority shows that over the past year, 160,749 babies were born – 82,437 boys and 78,312 girls. The most popular names were Itay, Daniel, Ori, Yosef, and Noam for boys; Noa, Shira, Tamar, Talia and Yael for girls. The number of new immigrants, according to the Immigration Authority at the Interior Ministry was 16,968. The survey also shows that through the year’s end, 127,052 Israelis wed and 29,616 divorced. According to the Immigration Authority, there are 8,730,562 registered Israelis in total. The gap in numbers between those of the CBS and the Interior Ministry is most likely due to Israelis currently living abroad, who are counted in Interior Ministry data, but are not included in CBS statistics. (Ynetnews 2 September 2013) • Danon Warns Netanyahu over 'Peace' Deal. Deputy Defense Minister says whoever presents an "interim agreement" with the PA does not belong in Likud. The staunch Land of Israel advocates in Likud's ranks are worried by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's attempts to reach an interim agreement with the Palestinian Authority, in which a Palestinian state will be established within temporary borders. Channel 2 reported Monday evening that in a closed meeting of Likud members that included Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein, Deputy Defense Minister Danny Danon sharply attacked the idea of an interim state, and warned the prime minister against bringing it to the government's approval. "What will happen if, G-d forbid, the negotiations lead to an agreement, and the prime minister will bring the agreement to the government? They are talking about an interim agreement,” he said. “If an accord like that is presented, the Likud movement must tell whoever is advancing such an arrangement: 'you do not belong in Likud.'” "These days, the 20th anniversary of the Oslo Accords is being marked and, rather than admitting failure, the Oslo gang is trying to lead to an interim arrangement in which the State of Israel will give away the majority of its assets and will not receive anything in return,” added Danon. “Such an arrangement contrary to the DNA of the Likud and the national camp and anyone who supports it - his place will not be in the Likud,” he said. Last week, Danon said that he is "very disturbed” by the diplomatic efforts: “I look at the diplomatic Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

negotiations team and I ask myself, who represents the interests of the state of Israel in the negotiations? Who represents the national camp? I respect Livni but she does not represent the national camp. She does not represent the settlers and their numerous supporters. I am very concerned by the fact that the team of Martin Indyk, Tzipi Livni and [PA negotiator Saeb] Erekat is leading us to the days of [Ehud] Olmert and the dividing of Jerusalem, to an agreement that speaks of a retreat from most of the territory in Judea and Samaria.” "There is no doubt that if negotiations ripen to an agreement by Minister Tzipi Livni and the Israeli government to surrender, the Likud movement will be put to the test, and Likud ministers will have to take a stand and decide if they are loyal to the Likud's path or if they choose to be led by Tzipi Livni, and – in this case – the prime minister. It is my understanding that we are not there and my hope that we will not be there.” (Israel National News 3 September 2013) • 'You can’t be an Occupier in Your Own Home'. In candid TV interview, Bayit Yehudi head says the lesson from world inaction on Syria is that Israel can only trust G-d and its own might. In a wide-ranging 30- minute interview with Nehama Duek, Bennett firmly rebuffed her contention that Israel is an occupying power in Judea and Samaria. “We are not occupiers. You cannot be an occupier in your own home. Internalize this, Nehama. We are not controlling them, they have been ruling themselves for a long time.” “In Lebanon, in Syria, in Egypt, everything is in chaos. The only stable place is here, in our land. We have stability and quiet thanks to the IDF, from the fact that we are present in Judea and Samaria and that we live there. The same geniuses who told us that if we give Syria the Golan Heights we will have peace, are now telling us that we have to hand over Judea and Samaria. I don't accept this." When Bennett described his proposal for applying Israeli sovereignty on parts of Judea and Samaria – Duek protested that the Palestinians want a state. “Okay,” he said. “And I want to live. What takes precedence? My will to live? My wanting that my four children survive – or their will to have a state and an army that will annihilate me? What can I do? Even though they'd really love to annihilate me, they have no partner in this. I have this bug in my system – I love to live in my country." During the interview, Bennett spoke about national unity, saying that part of his political mission is to unite different streams in the nation, and “to lower tensions.” On August 22, Bennett had a similar message for the public regarding the Syria gas attack: “Seventy years ago, when they annihilated children and babies, the world was silent,” he wrote. “The internet and television stations are not moving the world out of its complacency. Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

Images of mass graves and piles of children cannot pass in silence.” "A child is a child is a child,” he stated. “And don't tell me '[it's just] Arabs killing Arabs.' I will not be silent.” (Israel National News 3 September 2013) • Ya’alon: Settlement evacuations not part of new talks with Palestinians. Defense Minister says renewed negotiations “are not dealing with the evacuation of [West Bank] settlements.” The renewed Israeli Palestinian negotiations “are not dealing with the evacuation of [West Bank] settlements,” Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon said Tuesday evening at a Rosh Hashana toast in Samaria with settler leaders. The Samaria Regional Council relayed his words to the media. According to the council, Ya’alon questioned the assumption that in exchange for the word peace, Israel would relinquish territory. He added that the settlements in Judea and Samaria were important to the home-front defense of the nation and therefore needed to be strengthened and developed. Meanwhile Tuesday, Avi Ro’eh, who heads the Council of Jewish Communities of Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip, stated that renewed peace talks could only lead to a Palestinian state with temporary borders and would not end in a final-status agreement. “Our fear is of an interim agreement under American pressure whose central point’s will be Israeli recognition of a Palestinian state with temporary borders, and a decision to hand over sections of Area C to the Palestinians,” Ro’eh said on Tuesday in a rare press conference. “This can only harm Israel,” he contended. “It won’t improve our standing in Europe or in other areas.” He was standing in the newly inaugurated visitor center at the biblical archeological tourist site on the edge of the Shiloh settlement, in the West Bank’s Binyamin region. The round, glass paned room in which he spoke gave a panoramic view of the West Bank hills with their olive trees and terraced stone walls. Ro’eh accused the United States of pushing for renewed talks so it could chalk up one success in a region where it had suffered one failure after another. “There won’t be a final status agreement, because the Palestinians do not know how to give; only to take,” he went on, declaring that “two states for two peoples won’t happen here.” He added that what was needed instead was a process that would enable Israelis and Palestinians to have good relations. In light of what is happening in other countries in the region, he said, “the Palestinians here are living in Eden.” Israel takes care of their security, and there is local autonomy over 90 percent of their daily lives, he pointed out. He expressed hope that in the coming year, the building of new homes for Judea and Samaria residents would continue. Under Ya’alon, the ministry has been supportive of building projects for the settlements Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

and has helped to advance them, he added. With respect to the Amona outpost, which is under threat of demolition and against which there is a case in the High Court of Justice and the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court, Ro’eh said he believed the community would not be destroyed. He explained that in one way or another, the community would eventually receive authorization. In the worst-case scenario, he said, homes would be moved from private Palestinian property to purchased lots, so the community could remain on its hilltop. “The settlement enterprise won’t rise and fall on the issue of Amona,” said Ro’eh, even though he understood the pain of the families whose homes might be destroyed by a court order. He said he intended to respect the final will of the court. The best option in cases such as Amona is to compensate Palestinians on whose property Jewish homes have been built, he said. (JPOST 4 September 2013) • Jewish Public Radio published a report on the progress of the Israeli- Palestinian negotiations and the possibility of long-term success, and the signing of agreements between the two sides under the auspices of the U.S.. Focused radio in its report that the Israeli delegation to the current refusal to recognize all the agreements that took place between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and former Israeli Prime Minister "Ehud Olmert" on land, where the Israeli side, his Palestinian counterpart that the agenda earlier about the exchange of territory is void where they will be put up new agreements. According to sources, "Olmert" has agreed with President Mahmoud Abbas, previously unknown to withdraw from all the 67 territories with a limited exchange of Lands, where Olmert put up 6 percent "of the exchange of territory" and the Palestinians offered 1.9 percent. " (IBA 7 September 2013)

• Enforcer of West Bank building laws promoting development in his settlement. Rami Ziv ranks high in administration behind demolition orders for illegal West Bank homes - but meanwhile he's been seeking sweetheart terms for homes built in his own settlement. As the deputy head of a Civil Administration unit responsible for cracking down on illegal construction in the West Bank, Rami Ziv has often seen Israeli settlers protesting outside his home because of demolition orders his unit had issued. Yet while he was issuing demolition orders by day, Ziv was at one point meeting by night with representatives of Amana - the company that builds housing for settlements - in an effort to win good terms for construction in his own settlement, Peduel. Across from the negotiating table at these meetings sat Ze'ev Hever, the secretary general of Amana, or his representatives. Hever's connections go way Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

beyond Rami Ziv. Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon's door is open to him, as is that of Justice Minister Tzipi Livni and various senior officials in the Civil Administration. The relationship between Hever and Ziv, who are ostensibly on opposite sides of settlement construction (with Hever building and Ziv tearing down) is just one example of the intricate links and conflicts of interest that exist between the settlement enterprise and the state apparatus that is supposed to keep it in check. Those relationships don't appear to be disintegrating with the changing of the guard at the Civil Administration. When Brig. Gen. Moti Almoz was replaced as its head by Brig. Gen. David Menachem last week, Hever was very much in the fray, bringing Almoz a gift from the chain bookstore Tzomet Sfarim and huddling for an extended conversation with Maj. Gen. Eitan Dangot, the army's coordinator of government activities in the territories. The last state comptroller's report on the issue, which charged that people are pretty much doing whatever they want when it comes to settlement construction, doesn't seem to have made much of a dent. As for Ziv, he is a veteran Civil Administration inspector and has been in his current post as deputy head of enforcement monitoring in the West Bank for three years. He was the first to document the construction of the Migron and Amona outposts, which were the sites of serious clashes between pro-settlement protesters and security officials evacuating those areas. The demonstrations outside his home have taken place in the last few years, because of demolition orders he has issued. At the same time, Ziv believes in the ideology of Jewish settlement of the West Bank and acts on that belief. In 1984 he helped found the settlement of Yitzhar, near Nablus, and has since moved to the settlement of Peduel, where he lives now. One of his neighbors there is Bentzi Lieberman, the former head of the Yesha Council of settlements who is currently chairman of the Israel Lands Administration. Ziv is considered an honest and brave inspector, but also one who is cautious about damaging his relationships with friends who live on other settlements. In a May article, this newspaper reported that as part of a 2007 police investigation of Amana, which is essentially the construction arm of the Yesha Council, Ziv traveled with police investigators to point out illegal Amana buildings in Psagot but asked them to wait until he wasn't with them before they photographed the buildings, so as not to damage his relationship with his contacts on the settlement. He also refused a police request to provide an official description of the process by which the buildings he pointed out were constructed illegally. Ziv said that at the point it was unnecessary. In his own settlement of Peduel, Ziv is a dominant figure. He used to Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

head Peduel's construction committee, but in 2010 became a rank-and- file member of the committee rather than its chairman. His role on the committee comes despite the fact that, in his capacity as deputy head of the Civil Administration housing enforcement unit, he is the superior of the official who inspects the housing in Peduel that Ziv is promoting (though it must be said that, so far at least, all construction in Peduel is legal). (Haaretz 8 September 2013) • Settler leaders rally against Palestinian state with interim borders. Organizers plan rally after receiving what they believed to be credible information that such a plan was in works. As they gathered Sunday in front of the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem, settler leaders rallied against the possible creation of a Palestinian state with interim borders that could include the evacuation of some West Bank settlements. They spontaneously organized the rally late Saturday night after receiving what they believed to be credible information that such a plan was in the works. Palestinians in the last few days have also spoken out against the possibility of an interim state. “There is only a slim chance that we will come to a final status solution [from these negotiations],” said Construction and Housing Minister Uri Ariel (Bayit Yehudi) as he spoke to reporters at the tail end of the protest, which did not draw more than several dozen people. The only result that could emerge from the renewed talks between Israel and the Palestinians is an interim Palestinian state, Ariel said. He feared, he said, that the Israeli public would support such a solution because it would seem palatable to them. Settler leaders and right wing politicians are particularly worried that the plan could include the evacuation of some West Bank settlements. Ariel said he did not want to see a repeat of the 2005 Disengagement plan in which Jewish communities were evacuated. “We have a difficult history with this topic and we do not want to repeat it,” Ariel said. The Bayit Yehudi party had agreed to the negotiations; the issue was not the talks, but rather the topic of conversation between the two sides, he explained. “We oppose the expulsion of Jews,” Ariel stated. He warned that the time to work against any agreement that might be reached in the negotiations was now, before a plan was formed and not after it was announced. “Now is the time to make a difference. We will work to strengthen the settlement enterprise and to build in Judea and Samaria and in Jerusalem,” Ariel said. His party head, Economy and Trade Minister Naftali Bennett, stopped by but did not address the small protest. Avi Ro’eh, who heads the Council of Jewish Communities of Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip, said that in light of the chaos in the surrounding Arab nations, it was illogical to consider creating another Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

one. Add in US President Barack Obama’s retreat from attacking Syria even though it crossed red lines set by the US with regard to a chemical weapons attack, he pointed out. “It shows that we can’t trust anyone but ourselves,” Ro’eh said. “The prime minister’s solution of two states for two people is unrealistic, incorrect and dangerous for the state of Israel and its future,” Ro’eh stated. He imagined a scenario in which Netanyahu would agree to a Palestinian state in Judea and Samaria. “We are trying to explain why it’s not right to create a Palestinian state,” he said. “We have come to ring the alarm bell,” added Samaria Regional Council head Gershon Mesika. (JPOST 8 September 2013)

• Document confirms World Zionist Organization allocates land to settlers in Jordan valley. Government coordinator in the territories confirms: Settlers farming over a thousand acres of lands belonging to absentee owners in Jordan Valley. An internal Civil Administration document confirms a Haaretz report that the World Zionist Organization has allocated to settlers in the Jordan Valley more than 5,000 dunams (1,235 acres) of private Palestinian land located east of the border fence, namely, between that fence and the actual border with the Kingdom of Jordan. This area between the border fence and the actual border — the Jordan River — is a closed military zone that in some places is two kilometers wide. A military order prevents the Palestinian owners from accessing their lands in this area. On the other hand, Jewish settlers are allowed to farm the lands. In January, Haaretz reported that under the aegis of this order, the WZO had allocated to settlers in the Jordan Valley over 5,000 dunums of private Palestinian lands. Following this report, the Civil Administration began to investigate how this situation had come about and how much land had been allocated in this manner. The documents that have come into the possession of Haaretz indicate that following the June 1967 Six-Day War and after the border fence was completed, Palestinians continued to farm their lands located close to the border. But following a number of incidents in which Palestinian farmers in this area helped infiltrators to cross the border into Israeli-controlled territory; the entire area was declared a military zone. Several Palestinians who owned plots in the area submitted applications requesting permission to farm their lands; however, their requests were denied. In 1979, the WZO’s Settlement Division submitted a request for the cultivation of these lands “in light of the shortage of farmland in the Jordan Valley, a shortage that is preventing the expansion of existing communities and the establishment of new ones.” During the first government headed by Menachem Begin, the Ministerial Committee on Security Affairs Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

authorized the cultivation of state lands or lands belonging to absentee owners. In the wake of the committee’s decision, the Israel Defense Forces cleared the mines in this area. Plia Albeck, who directed the Civil Department of the State Prosecutor’s Office for 24 years and maintained close ties with rightist circles, issued a number of statements of professional opinion. In light of the statements she issued, the WZO was authorized to allocate some 75,000 dunams (18,750 acres) of land for farming purposes. Senior military officials, including then-GOC Central Command, Major General Amram Mitzna, approved the allocation of land for cultivation on condition that the farmers had served in the army and were permitted to bear firearms, and on condition that Palestinians would not farm the lands in their stead. It should be pointed out here that, despite the peace settlement Israel signed with Jordan in 1994, these guidelines were not reviewed and remain in effect to this day. The Civil Administration subsequently signed three agreements with the WZO, allocating to the latter organization some 29,000 dunums (7,250 acres) for farming purposes. An examination conducted by the Civil Administration shows that a total of 8,565 dunums (2,116 acres) are cultivated beyond the border fence; of these, 4,765 dunums (1,177 acres) are Palestinian lands, 578 dunums (143 acres) are privately owned and another 3,222 dunums (796 acres) are state lands. Discussions have recently been held in the Civil Administration and in the office of the coordinator of government activities in the territories on this matter. It is a complex legal issue, because the settlers farming these lands are not trespassers but are persons who were legally allocated the lands by the WZO. On the other hand, the lands also legally belong to their Palestinian owners. The coordinator of government activities in the territories, Maj. Gen. Eitan Dangot, has instructed that all Palestinians who request compensation for the lands they cannot farm should be compensated by the Civil Administration. A Civil Administration official has told Haaretz that the Civil Administration has no intention of initiating any action with regard to this matter. “If someone submits a petition to the Supreme Court in its capacity as the High Court of Justice, requesting that his lands be returned to him, we will have to decide what to do,” the official said. (Haaretz 9 September 2013) • Without fear of evacuation: jump in housing prices in Samaria. Mountain settlements residents jumping on every home available and prices are rising by tens of percent. Fear of a future agreement? "We'll stay here for another 20 years". Settlement houses in the mountain of Samaria, the future is estimated to remain outside of any map of the Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

political settlement between Israel and the Palestinians will crystallize, enjoy now, when negotiations are taking place, in peak demand. Figures indicate tens of percent surges in housing prices in the area. These settlements around the city of Nablus, outside the settlement blocs, including four relatively isolated communities: Yitzhar, Har Bracha, Itamar and Elon Moreh. In the past it was possible to reach these communities from the north and traffic them to the Emek Hefer Area and Sharon was comfortable, but since the Oslo Accords access to communities is just south from the junction connector road apple or ancient settlement. But despite the geographical isolation and despite the assumption that remain under Israeli control, the data collected Shomron Regional Council reveal that the pace of construction on the mountain does not achieve the demand and therefore prices soar. For example, the area 110 square meters in the settlement of Yitzhar, recently sold 690 thousand shekels. Similar house sold in 2011 -535 thousand shekels only. Comes a leap of 28 percent in two years Nearby settlement of Har Bracha sold a similar situation. In 2011 was sold in four-room apartment Two - Family 450 thousand shekels. Similar homes recently sold NIS 650 thousand (an increase of 44 percent). And despite rising prices, the inventory of apartments sold out and now do not get them. Itamar settlement more moderate price increase: in 2012 sold House area 100 sqm for 525 thousand shekels. Now sold a similar house at -570 thousand shekels (an increase of eight percent per year). Settlement of Elon Moreh was an increase of about ten percent Bsntiimm -660 thousand considered a private home in the 140 m in 2011, to -720 thousand shekels similar to today. Bad and Elad Rozenfeld, plus a pair of two, moved to Har Bracha four months ago and now they are looking for a home to purchase in the locality. Bad works of Har Bracha and Elad Tel Aviv, and after experiencing several "stations," the last one Ashkelon, they decided to establish their home instead. "The fact that after four months, I already know I want to stay here all my life shows a lot about this community," says Reut. "Despite all the talk about the future of the mountain, I see myself staying here for at least another 20 years. Therefore we are looking for a great home for these years." The surge in prices does not deter them but the problem is Har Bracha No homes for sale. "Prices rose across the country and it really is a place worth investing in," she says. "There is a community and a lively and even after the price increase is still much saner than anywhere else in the country." Shomron Regional Council head Gershon Mesika mountain resident himself, trying to explain the phenomenon. "This is a combination of a few things coming here expressed," he says. "On one hand, acute housing shortage within the Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

Green Line and freeze led to a sharp decline in supply, which inevitably leads to an increase in prices. And on the other hand, was created in the mountain settlement bloc quality geared to the needs of young couples, excellent education and community warm and embracing. I invite all who desired his home with a quality community, near the center of the country, to come and live in Samaria. " (Maariv 9 September 2013)

• Israel's high court on the Tuesday 10th of September 2013, will discuss whether to apply a controversial law in East Jerusalem which would enable the Israeli government to seize private Palestinian property. The Absentees' Property Law (1950) was originally enacted to transfer the property of Palestinian refugees, who had been forcibly displaced in 1948, to the state of Israel. A court hearing on Tuesday will determine whether the law can be applied to property in East Jerusalem which is owned by Palestinians who live in the occupied West Bank. In June, Israeli attorney general Yehuda Weinstein wrote a recommendation to the Israeli government which supported applying the law to Palestinians residing outside of Israel's unilaterally declared Jerusalem boundaries. In effect, the law would mean that Palestinians forced to flee their Jerusalem properties, who now reside in the occupied West Bank, would be considered "absentees," enabling the Israeli government to seize their land. Weintsein will not be present at Tuesday's court session but other officials from his office will attend. Only 13 percent of land in Jerusalem is now accessible to Palestinians, and that percentage would decrease significantly if the Absentees' Property Law is applied to occupied East Jerusalem. The law could be used to take control of private property from Palestinians in the occupied West Bank who live "only meters away from their properties." The Israeli high court may rule that each case be reviewed individually, therefore enabling the Israeli government to apply the law without provoking a strong reaction from the Palestinian Authority or international community. Israel could also claim that the so-called "absentee properties" will be used for public purposes, Tafakji added. Dr. Muatasim An-Nasser, a specialist in political history and Jerusalem, told Ma'an that Israel has been using the Absentees' Property Law to "legalize theft." The law has been used as a pretext to take control of land belonging to Palestinians who were forcibly displaced and sought refuge in other areas of Palestine, or other Arab countries, he added. "The Israeli government decided previously to annex East Jerusalem, but without including its residents. Thus, residency is subject to Israel's mood or is considered an interim Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

residency until all the residents' properties are under Israel's control." Applying the law to East Jerusalem is a clear violation of international law, "which Israel has always violated." (Maannews 10 September 2013)

• Israel's highest academic society: 108 professors, but not a single Arab. The Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities selects its members from among scholars at the peak of their career, usually when they’ve passed 60 years old; academy official says: 'Regrettably, the number of Arab scientists... is too small'. The Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, which comprises 108 of Israel's most distinguished scholars, doesn't have a single Arab member. The universities employ only a handful of Arab scholars each – between one and five - in the most senior position. "In academia abroad, in the United States for example, they boast of affirmative action in the approach to minorities. In Israel there is no openness or desire to accept the other," says Professor Yousef Jabareen of the Technion. The academy selects its members from among scholars at the peak of their career, usually when they’ve passed 60 years old. Members include former Supreme Court President Aharon Barak and Nobel Prize winners Yisrael Aumann, Dan Shechtman Aaron Ciechanover. The academy's president is Ruth Arnon. Every year the members are permitted to choose up to five new members in humanities and natural sciences. The chosen few, picked on the recommendation of academy members, are typically the most senior tenured professors in an academic institution. An academy official said there are no Arabs there because "the stratum from which the academy's members are chosen is the senior faculty of academia – leading scientists with achievements and accomplishments." "Regrettably, the number of Arab scientists … is too small in the senior academic staff, from which the most prominent and excellent ones are chosen as academy members," he said. Higher Education Council figures show only 2 percent of the 174 senior staff members of state-funded institutions are Arab. A Haaretz survey of research universities found few Arab scholars in the highest professional level at each university. Hebrew University has two Arab professors at the highest level out of 20 senior faculty members. Ben- Gurion University has 13 Arab professors out of 451, five at the highest level and eight in lower positions. Haifa University has two Arab professors at the highest rung and 10 in lower levels, out of 265 professors. Tel Aviv University officials said there were about 25 senior Arab faculty members there, and at Bar-Ilan University there are two Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

senior Arab faculty members. Ariel University's 80 professors include not a single Arab. (Haaretz 12 September 2013) • Security forces on high alert as Israelis mark Yom Kippur. West Bank checkpoints temporarily closed until after Day of Atonement ends; police undertake security measures to safeguard worshipers gathering at Western Wall; train and bus services ceased. Expecting many thousands of Jewish worshipers to gather at the Western Wall in Jerusalem at the start of Yom Kippur Friday evening, police have preemptively undertaken numerous security measures to safeguard them for the duration of the fast, which ends on Saturday evening. Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said Thursday that the hundreds of officers, to be stationed in and around the Kotel and the Old City, had been instructed on all security needs and expectations days before. “Israeli police have completed security measures ahead of Yom Kippur, which will be implemented from Thursday evening until the end of Yom Kippur,” said Rosenfeld. “Tens of thousands of visitors in the area are expected, and police will ensure they can pray peacefully.” Rosenfeld said Border Police, undercover teams and various other elite units will blanket the area to respond immediately to any incidents, with particular precaution being taken at the Western Wall and synagogues in the area. Security crossings into Israel from the West Bank were temporarily closed Friday and will open again following Yom Kippur in accordance with security assessments adopted by the IDF. Train and bus services throughout the country ended Friday afternoon and were set to resume Saturday evening after Yom Kippur ends. As occurs every year, streets and highways across the country are also empty of private traffic in observance of Yom Kippur. The fast will begin at 6:12 p.m in Jerusalem, 6:27 p.m in Tel Aviv, 6:19 p.m in Haifa and 6:27 p.m in Beersheba and will last approximately 25 hours. (JPOST 13 September 2013) • 500,000 attend slihot prayers at the Western Wall since start of Jewish month of Elul. Faithful come to holy site to recite the traditional penitential prayers that are said at this time of year. Jews praying at the Western Wall. Photo: Western Wall Heritage Foundation. Some 500,000 people have participated in slihot prayers at the Western Wall since the beginning of the month of Elul, the Western Wall Heritage Foundation announced on Thursday. Thousands more arrived Thursday night for the final penitential prayer service before Yom Kippur, in which Chief Rabbis David Lau and Yitzhak Yosef participated along with Western Wall Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz. Throughout the month of Elul and especially in the days between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, tens of Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

thousands came to the site – individually, as families or as part of an organized group – to recite the traditional prayers said at this time of year. “This dramatic spectacle of the masses of the Jewish people thronging to the Western Wall is an impressive testimony and is an honor for the people of Israel and [demonstrates] its affinity to its traditions and inheritance and to the remnant of our Temple,” said Rabinowitz. “It is hard not to be moved by the strength of these images, which demonstrate the true strength of the the Jewish people.” Meanwhile, the Or Yisraeli youth organization held a slihot service Wednesday night at the tomb of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yohai in Meron in the Galilee. Approximately 7,000 members of the youth movement attended midnight prayers, prior to which the group’s founder and president, Israel Prize laureate Rabbi Yitzhak David Grossman, addressed the crowd. Grossman told the assembled that their gathering in the middle of the night to seek closeness to God was a source of great pleasure to the Creator. Or Yisraeli has 150 branches around the country with 10,000 members and “seeks to impart Jewish values and traditions to the country’s youth.” Rabbi Avraham Yitzhak Grinboim, its chairman, said it was an intense event that would stay with the participants for years to come. “The prayer service at the foot of the tomb of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yohai was an incredibly rousing experience, which is hard to put in to words,” he declared. (JPOST 13 September 2013) • Police Promise: No More Soccer Games on Temple Mount. At long last, said Public Security Minister Yitzchak Ahronovich, police will enforce the law banning soccer games on Judaism's holiest site. It's bad enough that Jews are more or less banned from their holiest site – the Temple Mount – but what's even painful is the fact that those who are allowed to use it on a regular basis desecrate the sacred site on a regular basis. That was the essence of a missive sent by MK Moshe Feiglin (Likud Beiteinu) to Public Security Minister Yitzchak Ahronovich – and to Feiglin's surprise, the minister said that he would order police to enforce a court ruling that bans soccer games on the Mount. Jews have long complained about the activities by Muslims on the Mount deemed inappropriate to a holy place, such as barbecues, picnics, and political demonstrations. One of the worst desecrations, say many Jews involved in the issue, are the soccer games that take place in the open areas of the mount, with the attendant cursing, fighting, and other unholy behavior. The High Court several years ago banned the practice, in response to several petitions – but police have never enforced the law. That will now change, said Ahronovich. Responding Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

to a Knesset query filed last June by Feiglin, in the wake of an incident in which Jews grabbed a soccer ball being used for an illegal game, and gave it to police – who promptly returned it to the players – Ahronovich said that the police are obligated to uphold the law, and they will “The officers acted in contradiction to the law and their obligations,” Ahronovich said. “The query by MK Feiglin is definitely appropriate. Police will from now on conscientiously enforce the law, and I have ordered police commanders to do so. Police are already working through several channels that the sanctity of the site is preserved,” he added. In response, the Jewish Leadership (Manhigut Yehudit) movement, led by Feiglin, praised Ahronovich saying that he had promised to look into how and why police have not been enforcing the law as required. Officials of the Temple Institute also praised the minister, saying that it welcomed efforts by police to end the practice of using the holy site “as a playground.” MK Feiglin has been a particularly vocal critic of the policy banning Jewish worship on the Temple Mount, condemning it as discrimination. He himself had been subject to a blanket ban from ascending the Mount after police took issue with several high profile visits he made to the site. (Israel National News 13 September 2013) • Feiglin to question legal authority, legitimacy of Temple Mount Wqaf. Groups lobby for Jewish prayer rights at Temple Mount during Succoth after lack of access during Rosh Hashana. The Knesset Interior Committee scheduled a hearing for Monday regarding preparations for Jewish visitation to the Temple Mount over Succoth. Groups lobbying for Jewish prayer rights at the site criticized the lack of accesses afforded to them over Rosh Hashana and are demanding that Jewish visits over Succoth be enabled by police. Access was restricted on the first day of Rosh Hashana and the site was closed on the second day to Jewish and other non-Muslim visitors when non-Muslims are generally not given access. In general, access for Jews and other non- Muslims is strictly controlled, and police prohibit any non-Muslim prayer at the site as well as any outward demonstrations of religious worship, in accordance with the demands of the Jordanian Islamic trust, or Wqaf, which administers the area. MK and Deputy Knesset Speaker Moshe Feiglin, a longtime Temple Mount prayer rights advocate, is insisting that, in light of the problems encountered over Rosh Hashana, police must prepare adequately for Jewish access over Succoth. The MK highlighted specifically the closure of the Temple Mount to Jews and non-Muslims over the last two weeks of Ramadan. In light of this policy, exclusive Jewish access should be provided by police during Succoth, he argued. Feiglin also intends to publicly Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

question the legality of the Wqaf and its authority to administer the Temple Mount. He recently sent a letter to the police, asking for clarification regarding the legal authority of the body, and subsequently challenged the reply that a government decision taken after the Six Day War authorized the Wqaf to continue running the site. “To the best of my knowledge, there is no such decision, and from a reading of the words of the ministerial committee in 1968, it is clear that they thought there was no such agreement,” Feiglin wrote to Insp.- Gen. Yohanan Danino. Feiglin quoted then-justice minister Yaakov Shimshon Shapira, who said at a committee meeting in June 1968: “We never announced that the entirety of the Temple Mount belongs to the Arabs. We never announced that it is forbidden for Jews to pray there. We never announced that it is forbidden for Jews to establish a synagogue there.” Feiglin wrote that in the absence of such a decision, “all directives which discriminate between Muslims and non- Muslims regarding entrance to the [Temple] Mount should be immediately rescinded and free entrance from all gates to the Mount is enabled, in accordance with the law.” The MK also demanded that all Wqaf stewards be removed from the site and raised questions about the Wakf’s legal status – questions, which he plans to rise at Monday’s committee hearing. Feiglin claims the Wqaf is not a registered institute in any state framework and therefore does not pay the appropriate taxes and national insurance contributions as required by law. “It seems to me that this is a badge of shame for the Israel Police force to cooperate with this criminal organization and for its police officers to respond to the whims of its officials,” wrote Feiglin. (JPOST 16 September 2013)

• Right-wing MKs tells Netanyahu: Don't give land to Palestinians. Seventeen members of the governing coalition, including five deputy ministers, call on Netanyahu to refuse any deal that involves ceding land. Seventeen coalition Knesset members, including five deputy ministers, called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday not to agree to any deal that would include handing over any lands to the Palestinian Authority. A letter signed by the MKs was handed to Netanyahu before his meeting with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, reflecting fears in Likud that Netanyahu might agree to a far-reaching deal with the Palestinians that would include ceding territory. Likud deputy ministers Zeev Elkin, Danny Danon and Tzipi Hotovely were among the signatories, along with Habayit Hayehudi deputy ministers Eli Ben Dahan and Avi Wortzman. The letter reads: “Twenty years after the wretched Oslo Accords, we call on the prime minister to Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

present our clear position to the U.S. secretary of state: Israel will not return to the Oslo outline, and will not hand further parts of the motherland to the Palestinian Authority.” The letter was initiated by the head of the Land of Israel lobby in the Knesset, coalition chairman Yariv Levin (Likud) and Habayit Hayehudi’s Orit Strock. Other signatories included Likud MK Miri Regev, Yisrael Beiteinu MK David Rotem and Habayit Hayehudi MK’s Ayelet Shaked, Nissan Slomiansky, Moti Yogev, Shuli Moalem, Zvulun Kalfa and Yoni Chetboun. Likud right-wing activists have recently been more outspoken than before in their rhetoric against any possible deal with the Palestinians. Last week Channel 2 reported that Danon “threatened” to oust Netanyahu from the party if he promoted a deal with the Palestinians in the immediate future. “What would happen if, God forbid, the talks lead to an agreement and the prime minister presents this deal to the government? Will we again say that one shouldn’t embarrass the prime minister? Now they’re discussing an interim agreement. If that issue arises, the Likud should stand up and declare: ‘Whoever promotes such a deal should not be in the Likud,’” Danon said. Last week Hotovely called a press conference for foreign correspondents and said: “Four prime ministers have failed in reaching peace by dividing the land. The fate of these present talks will be no different. The Israeli government must offer an alternative plan.” (Haaretz 16 September 2013) • 2012 West Bank settler population growing almost three times as fast as national rate. Settlement population represents 4.2 percent of overall population, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics. The growth rate of the settler population in 2012 was five percent, which means that the number of Israelis in the West Bank increased at a pace almost three times as fast the nation’s 1.9% growth rate last year, according to numbers released Monday by the Central Bureau of Statistics. Put in real numbers, the number of West Bank settlers in 2012 was 341,400, up by 16,200 from the 2011 population of 325,200, according to the CBS. The 11,100 babies born to settler families in 2012 contributed to 68.5% of the population growth, while the remaining 31.5% increase came from the 5,100 people who moved into West Bank settlements last year. The 2012 settler population represents a small increase both in the rate of growth and the actual growth that occurred in the last few years, according to the CBS. In 2009, there were 296,700 settlers living in the West Bank, for a growth rate of 5.3% compared to the nation’s 1.8% rate that year, according to the CBS. But in 2010, the settler growth rate dipped slightly to 4.9%, while that of the nations rose slightly to 1.9%. Put in real numbers, the settler population grew by 14,400 for a total of Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

311,100 that year, according to the CBS. The growth rate dropped again in 2011 to 4.6% and that of the nation’s dipped to 1.8%. Put in real terms, the settler population in 2011 grew again by 14,400 for a total of 325,200, according to the CBS. Despite the rapid rate of growth, the settlement population represents only 4.2% of the country’s overall population of 7.9 million in 2012. Close to half of the settler population in 2012 lived in only five of the 130 West Bank settlements. The largest West Bank settlement, Modi’in Illit, had a population of 55,494 in 2012, followed by Betar Illit with a population of 42,467. Some 36,862 settlers lived in Ma’aleh Adumim in 2012, 18,176 people lived in Ariel and another 13,466 lived in the Givat Ze’ev settlement, according to the CBS. (JPOST 17 September 2013) • Israeli Government Coalition, who is participating in the negotiation process with the Palestinians, has recently approved a plan to pave a new road from the illegal Gush Etzion settlement bloc to the Dead Sea. Israeli ministers are scheduled Tuesday to visit the Gush Etzion bloc in the West Bank to view the project that will go into effect after four months. Israeli Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz, Agriculture Minister Yair Shamir and Chairman Avigdor Lieberman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee will visit Gush Etzion bloc for their first work tour associated with the giant project. The timing of the presentation of the project as well as the route of the new road are considered problematic, because it crosses West Bank areas which are discussing these days between Israel and the Palestinian Authority as part of the negotiations. However, the road passes only through Area C, which full under the Israeli control. The tour will take place Tuesday 17th of September. According to the plan, the existing road connecting the coast through the town Beit Shemesh and Gush Etzion, added to the continuing pave on existing steep jeep road today. The cost of the program is estimated at $ 35 million. Site work should start in January 2014, which means that in four months, and a year and a half later, the work should be completed and the trip to the Dead Sea from Gush Etzion will take 27 minutes. There is also a new program phase two, which will be expanded and will improve greatly the road to Beit Shemesh make Gush Etzion accessible from the west lot quicker and easier than today. This is kind of a highway connecting the coastal plain, from Ashkelon, Gush Etzion. Staff formulated the plan argue that road planning in coordination with environmental factors and is defined as' the way landscape "is integrated into its natural surroundings. Tour program will be held today ministers and professionals who will travel along the road SUVs. Below shall be Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

distributed responsibility for the program and will be defined budget sources to finance the project. Dovey Damn, head of the regional council scrolls, told Ma'ariv yesterday: "This road is a dream of mine for twenty years, and is part of the vision of tourism of connecting the Gush Etzion Dead Sea and connecting regional council Scrolls Jerusalem. This road will facilitate the arrival of tourists from Bethlehem, the Dead Sea and increase tourism here, along with access to great relief of the inhabitants of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. “David Pearl, head of the Gush Etzion Regional Council, described the road 'event in the history of the settlement and the state.” He said, "Today there are only two roads to the Dead Sea, the significance of adding a major new road leading to the center of the Dead Sea is to encourage tourism and the many visitors to Gush Etzion in the Judean Desert and the Dead Sea." (Maariv 17 September 2013)

• In response to a request by the Society of St. Yves under the Freedom of Information Act, the Israeli Ministry of Interior published figures on family unification applications between the years 2000 to 2013, child registration applications from 2004-2013 and cases in front of the Humanitarian Committee from 2007-2013. Since 2000, the Ministry of Interior rejected 43% of the family unification applications and 24% of the child registration applications. It must be pointed out that the Ministry of Interior denied the registration of 12 children due to security reasons – speaking of minors under 14 years old. Between 2000 and July 2013 the Ministry of Interior received 12,284 family unification applications, 5,629 applications were approved, 4,249 rejected. Thus, 43% of the applications in which the Ministry took decision were rejected. 20% of these cases were denied due to security concerns. 13% were rejected on bases of the center of life policy – this means that the applicants could not prove that their center of life was in Jerusalem or Israel. The figures also indicate that there is a big delay processing the applications and taking decisions in them: In 2012, 809 new applications were filed while just 332 cases were concluded. In total, at least 2,406 cases are pending and wait for a decision. If an average family size of four members is assumed, this means there are currently at least 9,624 persons living in uncertainty, which is proportionately 2.6% of the population in East Jerusalem. It must be stated that the dark figure is much higher, as the 2.6% include just open applications, not considering rejected cases or families which do not fulfill the age or security criteria set by the Israeli authorities. Between 2004 and July 2013 the Ministry of Interior received 17,616 applications for child registration, 12,247 were approved, 3,933 Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

rejected. The Ministry cannot provide data prior to 2004 as prior to that year files were not inserted into the computerized system. The figures show that 24% of all decisions were negative. 29% of the rejected applications were refused on the grounds of the center of life policy. In 12 cases children were not registered due to security concerns. The figures indicate that on the date St. Yves submitted the request 1,436 cases were pending. In the cases of child registration through the family unification process between 2000 and 2013 239 applications were filed. 120 application were approved, 75 rejected. One case was rejected due to security reasons, 44 on the bases of the center of life policy. The “humanitarian committee” which was established in 2007 and is charged with examining individual requests for family reunification based on specific humanitarian grounds, received 900 applications between 2007 and mid 2013. In 121 cases the committee ruled in favor of the applicants, 415 cases were rejected. Between 2012 and mid-2013, no positive decision was given by the committee. Out of a total of 176 cases submitted in 2012, 59 were rejected. At the moment, there are 364 cases pending – until the date St. Yves submitted the request the committee decided on no case in 2013. The figures give a limited picture of the realities of family unification and child registration: The total number of cases indicates only new filed applications per year, therefore approved and rejected cases cannot be seen in relation to the total number of cases, as it is unknown how many cases were opened before the year 2000. This is why the Society of St. Yves will submit a follow-up request to the Ministry of Interior to clarify questions which arose from the received figures. (Saint Yves 17 September 2013)

• Historic Pro-Judea and Samaria Conference at EU. 20 European Parliament members and many media representatives took part in the conference, initiated by Samaria leadership. A historic conference in support of the Jewish settlement enterprise in Judea and Samaria took place Tuesday inside one of the bastions of opposition to the Jewish presence in the region – the European Parliament. The conference was organized by the Deputy Chairman of the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, Dr. Fiorello Provera of Italy, who became a supporter of the Jewish communities after touring Samaria (Shomron), and by senior MEP Bastiaan Belder of Holland, who has also become a friend of Samaria in recent years. The Israeli delegation included Samaria (Shomron) Regional Council Head Gershon Mesika, Acting Council Head Yossi Dagan, and the Director of Shomron Foreign Department, Shay Atias. MK Ayelet Shaked (Bayit Yehudi) was also a Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

part of the delegation. David Walzer, Israel's Ambassador to the EU, delivered an address at the conference – the first time he has done so alongside the Samaria representatives. In the two days that preceded the conference, members of the Israeli delegation met with influential MEPs including Germany's Elmar Brok, Chairman of the EU's Committee on Foreign Affairs, and Alejo Vidal Quadras, Vice- President of the European Parliament. About 20 MEPs took part in the historic conference, in the Foreign Affairs Committee hall, and many media representatives attended it as well. Samaria Regional Council Head Gershon Mesika said in his speech that “the European Union needs to carry out some serious soul searching, as regards its treatment of the Jewish people throughout history, in general, and specifically in recent years. The bad old anti-Semitism is cloaked in a costume of anti- Israelism nowadays.” Mesika's deputy, Yossi Dagan, also addressed the gathering. “The most important thing is to come out and see things with one's own eyes. For years, we have been talking in this building about Judea and Samaria, and yet most people have not been there and have not seen the reality," he said. Dagan also took the opportunity to call on the EU to end its funding for radical anti-Israel organizations. "The EU must stop funding the extreme leftist organizations that are sabotaging the coexistence in the factories of Judea and Samaria. This is a great waste of money and it harms coexistence as well as relations between the EU and Israel.” MK Shaked called for a change in the very terminology employed within the context of the Arab-Israeli conflict. “It is time to say the truth: Judea and Samaria are not occupied territory, but disputed territory. That is the truth as far as international law is concerned, as well.” The Israelis' speeches were marked by applause from the audience. MEP Adrian Severin of Romania said that the EU needs to rethink its new policy regarding marking products from Judea and Samaria. “Although there are disputes, we must think if this is the right time to place pressure on the only stable place in the Middle East.” Dr. Provera summed up the conference, saying that “MEPs in this house are not familiar with the facts. Did you know that Jews and Arabs work side by side in the factories of Samaria? The idea of putting pressure on Israel and slapping sanctions on it is unacceptable. It will not bring peace, but may only bring unemployment to the Palestinians, as a result of which they might turn to terror.” The conference was organized by the Foreign Affairs Bureau of the Samaria Regional Council, which has been working with the EU for the past 18 months and which assembled the rare coalition of 20 MEPs. The Samaria Regional Council has hosted Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

more than 70 MEPs for tours of Samaria in the past 18 months, as well as 100 foreign journalists. (Israel National News 18 September 2013) • Ariel Youth Movement 'Floods' Paths of the Patriarchs. Over a thousand girls from the Ariel movement came to the land of Netzer to renew the pioneering enterprise of the land of Israel. A flood of youth in the form of 1,200 girls from the Ariel youth movement traveled to Gush Etzion on Monday to identify with the renewed pioneering enterprise in the expanses of the land of Israel. The participants came from around the country and swept over the paths of Netzer and Derech HaAvot (Path of the Patriarchs) located in Gush Etzion. Yehudit Katzover and Nadia Matar, co-directors of the "Women in Green" grassroots Zionist organisation, which campaigns to uphold Jewish rights in the land of Israel, greeted the girls who came to the lands of Netzer. "Many hundreds of girls, from dozens of branches, and with spirits so high they reached the heavens, filled the agricultural plots at Netzer, those agricultural lands that were saved from Arab takeover by the Women in Green movement and the activists of the Netzer Group," they said. "The girls turned over the soil of the plots with their hands and with hoes, and watered the trees with water that they brought there in buckets," they said, adding that "the tree is like the soldier in the field who guards the land of Israel." Katsover and Matar hoped to transmit the message of awareness and inner feeling that "every place on which the girls tread belongs to us, to the Jewish people." "The girls felt how, by their activity and their presence at the site, they continue in the steps of the Patriarchs when they establish facts on the ground for future generations." The trip was organized in exemplary fashion by the Ariel movement, and inculcated in the girls educational messages and values of love of Israel. The trip ended for the girls and the organizers with a sense of raised spirits which was expressed in the promise to return and volunteer in the Women in Green agricultural camp for youth, held at Netzer during the year. Yossi Vardi, the Director General of the Ariel movement, shared how the connection between the movement and Women in Green began. "When we were on the road, preparing the Sukkot trip in the Gush Etzion region, we passed through Netzer and we discovered the tremendous activity that is being done by Women in Green for the redemption of lands, and we decided to bring the girls there, as one of the stops on the trip." In the stops on their trip, the members of the Ariel youth movement go to different sites where emphasis is placed on a central value from the life of the Jewish people. Among the other stops, they learned of the values of the sanctity of the Jewish people at a site with a mikveh (ritual bath) from the Second Temple period, the Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

value of aliyah le-regel, or pilgrimage to the Temple (Jews walked along this very route on their way to Jerusalem), and additional values. On the meeting itself between the movement's girls, youth leaders, and branch leaders with Women in Green, he relates: "After we discovered the place, we contacted Women in Green and asked how we can help. The girls worked at removing stones, hoeing, clearing the area, and watering and caring for the trees. We intend to continue this connection with Women in Green. We will sit together and see how we are continuing together, and strengthen the connection of the members of the Ariel movement to the Land of Israel, to the Torah of Israel, and to the redemption of the land." "We are happy for having merited seeing this wonderful and pure youth that grows naturally in its land, Eretz Israel," Katsover and Matar sum up the entire event and invite the public to come to Netzer on the intermediate days of the holiday of Sukkot. A kosher sukkah set up by Women in Green will be waiting there for visitors and hikers. (Israeli National News 18 September 2013) • Human rights and environmental authorities revealed that the Israeli Environment Ministry granted in June 2012 a license to transport fuel- contaminated soil from the land occupied in 1948 to the West Bank, especially to the established Israeli waste treatment in the northern of Jordan Valley. Despite the serious health-environmental consequences resulting from the treatment of contaminated soil in the West Bank, the Ministry claimed that the Israeli Treaty with the necessary means to prevent the spread of pollution into the ocean. It also claims the Ministry of transport of contaminated waste to Jordan Valley does not include any political problem, although the latter is in accordance with international law as occupied territory and, consequently, the applicable international conventions and treaties that prohibit disposal of waste of the State (Israel) in the territories under military occupation (the West Bank). It should be noted that the established "settlement composite or adjacent to the colony" normalized "in Palestinian rift deals a few years ago, various kinds of domestic and agricultural waste and spin them into organic fertilizer (composite). The Ministry of the environment has recently moved the Israeli fuel contaminated soils to have established, in line with the policy of the Ministry, which strongly supports the colonial activity in the West Bank and install several Israeli industrial projects. According to the allegations of the Israeli Cabinet, the level of soil contamination of fuel rising, in landfills (which in the occupied West Bank. c. k.) and not in the garbage dump "country" for hazardous waste in the Negev (site named "Ramat hoviv"), where she was buried soils contaminated by Israeli. It is known that Israeli occupation on many of the West Bank (in the areas Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

of Ramallah, Hebron and Tulkarem, Nablus and other) to vie with animals to waste. And also, it is useful to recall that the establishment of the separation wall, the colonial, which is notable and most heinous war crimes against human and environment, stealing fertile top soil from the West Bank and moved into territories occupied in 1948; occupation steal fertile soil from the Bank, in turn, transferred the contaminated soil. In addition to the effects of the wall destroyed hundreds of thousands of dunums of Palestinian land planted fertile swept away and looted, as well as the destruction of vegetation, and the uprooting of hundreds of thousands of rustling carob trees, olive, almond, Palm, and rare wild plants, threatening biodiversity and some animal species, as in the Jenin area and Jordan Valley, such as wild birds, deer, hedgehog, wolves, hyenas, and threatened with extinction. The issue here lies not only in the health consequences resulting from the spread of pollution from contaminated soils into the ocean, but also harm caused by such soils agricultural land in the Jordan Valley, tens of meters (yards) from Israeli soil contaminated sites; not to mention the pollution of groundwater. (Wattan 19 September 2013)

• European diplomats: Israeli army manhandled us, seized Palestinian aid. IDF says it was blocking an attempt to pitch tents at site of a West Bank village demolished earlier this week, and that Palestinians attacked soldiers. Israeli soldiers clashed with Palestinians, European diplomats and foreign activists trying to erect an encampment in the West Bank on Friday. The diplomats said the Israel Defense Forces manhandled them and stopped them from bringing aid and supplies to Palestinians whose homes in the hamlet of Khirbet Makhoul were demolished on Monday. Meanwhile, the IDF said the attempt to erect the tents was a "provocation," and that Palestinians attacked the soldiers at the scene. The army said dozens of Palestinians, foreign activists and diplomats gathered near the settlement of Hemdat and the base of the IDF’s Kfir Brigade in the northern Jordan Valley on Friday afternoon, and tried to set up tents at the site where the homes were razed. Some of those present started throwing stones toward the security forces and hitting soldiers, the IDF said, adding that it used stun grenades to disperse the crowd. Three Palestinians were detained for attacking the security forces and transferred to police, the IDF said. The area was declared a closed military zone, and the army stopped a truck bringing supplies to the site, the IDF said. Reuters reported that the soldiers manhandled European diplomats at the site, and seized the truck, which was full of tents and emergency aid they had been trying to deliver to Palestinians whose homes were demolished. Khirbet Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

Makhoul was home to about 120 people. The army razed their ramshackle houses, stables and a kindergarten on Monday after Israel's High Court ruled that they did not have proper building permits. Despite losing their property, the inhabitants have refused to leave the land, where, they say; their families have lived for generations along with their flocks of sheep. A Reuter’s reporter saw soldiers throw stun grenades at a group of diplomats, aid workers and locals, and yank a French diplomat out of the truck before driving away with its contents. "They dragged me out of the truck and forced me to the ground with no regard for my diplomatic immunity," French diplomat Marion Castaing told Reuters. "This is how international law is being respected here," she said, covered with dust. 'Shocking and outrageous' Israeli soldiers stopped the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) delivering emergency aid on Tuesday and on Wednesday IRCS staff managed to put up some tents but the army forced them to take the shelters down. Diplomats from France, Britain, Spain, Ireland, Australia and the European Union's political office, turned up on Friday with more supplies. As soon as they arrived, about a dozen Israeli army jeeps converged on them, and soldiers told them not to unload their truck. "It's shocking and outrageous. We will report these actions to our governments," said one EU diplomat, who declined to be named because he did not have authorization to talk to the media. "(Our presence here) is a clear matter of international humanitarian law. By the Geneva Convention, an occupying power needs to see to the needs of people under occupation. These people aren't being protected," he said. In the scuffles between soldiers and locals, an elderly Palestinian man also fainted and was taken for medical treatment to a nearby ambulance. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a statement that Makhoul was the third Bedouin community to be demolished by the Israelis in the West Bank and adjacent Jerusalem municipality since August. Palestinians have accused the Israeli authorities of progressively taking their historical grazing lands, either earmarking it for military use or handing it over to the Israelis whose settlements dot the West Bank. Israelis and Palestinians resumed direct peace talks last month after a three-year hiatus. Palestinian officials have expressed serious doubts about the prospects of a breakthrough. "What the Israelis are doing is not helpful to the negotiations. Under any circumstances, talks or not, they're obligated to respect international law," the unnamed EU diplomat said. (Haaretz 20 September 2013) Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

• EU calls on Israel to explain IDF 'mistreatment' of diplomats in West Bank. Israel is upset over the way diplomats acted in the incident, particularly the striking of an IDF officer. The European Union demanded that Israel explain the IDF mistreatment of some European diplomats who went with aid organizations to deliver tents to Palestinian families in the Jordan Valley. The homes of the Palestinians were destroyed by Israel on Monday morning in compliance with a High Court of Justice order. The violence occurred as the IDF pulled a French diplomat and Palestinians out of a truck with new tent supplies for the Palestinian families, so they could confiscate it. Photographs from the incident show the french diplomat on the ground, after she was pulled from the truck. The Foreign Ministry on Saturday night sent The Jerusalem Post an 11-second video clip in which the French diplomat can be seen punching a soldier in the face once she gets up from the ground. But a Reuter’s reporter saw soldiers on Friday throw sound grenades at a group of diplomats, aid workers and Palestinians. A seven minute video posted on YouTube shows multiple incidents in which the IDF acted violently toward foreigners and Palestinians during the events. EU foreign policy Chief Catherine Ashton said on Saturday, “The EU deplores the confiscation of humanitarian assistance carried out by Israeli security forces yesterday in Khirbet al- Makhul." “EU representatives have already contacted the Israeli authorities to demand an explanation and expressed their concern at the incident. The EU underlines the importance of unimpeded delivery of humanitarian assistance and the applicability of international humanitarian law in the occupied Palestinian territory,” Ashton said. According to Foreign Ministry spokesman Paul Hirschson, the French Foreign Ministry has spoken with Israel’s ambassador to France over the incident. There was also a conversation between the EU and Foreign Ministry Deputy Director General Rafi Schutz, Hirschson said. The incident is not over, Hirschson said. Israel is upset over the way diplomats acted in the incident, particularly the striking of an officer, he said. Diplomats, he said, “are sent to countries to build bridges, not act as provocateurs.” But French diplomat Marion Castaing described for Reuters how the IDF mistreated her. “They dragged me out of the truck and forced me to the ground with no regard for my diplomatic immunity,” Castaing said. “This is how international law is being respected here,” she said, covered with dust. Locals said Khirbet Al- Makhul was home to about 120 people. The army demolished their ramshackle houses, stables and a kindergarten on Monday after the High Court of Justice ruled that they did not have proper building permits. Despite losing their property, the inhabitants have refused to Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

leave the land where, they say; their families have lived for generations along with their flocks of sheep. The Israeli army said on Friday that security forces had tried to prevent tents from being erected in area, in accordance with the court decision. “At the site, Palestinians and the foreign activists violently objected, throwing stones and striking law enforcement officers,” a military spokeswoman said. “Reports that foreign diplomats abused their diplomatic privileges are currently being reviewed, and if required, complaints will be filed with the relevant authorities.” The French diplomat jabbed a soldier in the face after picking herself up off the ground. Reuter’s reporters at the scene said they saw no stone throwing or foreign activists. Israeli soldiers stopped the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) delivering emergency aid on Tuesday and on Wednesday ICRC staff managed to put up some tents but the army forced them to take the shelters down. Diplomats from France, Britain, Spain, Ireland, Australia and the European Union’s political office, turned up on Friday with more supplies. As soon as they arrived, about a dozen Israeli army jeeps converged on them, and soldiers told them not to unload their truck. “It’s shocking and outrageous. We will report these actions to our governments,” said one EU diplomat, who declined to be named because he was not authorized to talk to the media. (JPOST 22 September 2013)

• Following altercation in West Bank || Israel considers banishing French diplomat who tussled with Border Police. National security adviser to decide whether to declare French diplomat Marion Fesneau- Castaing persona non-grata; Israel calls her acts a provocation.Israel is considering taking action against one of the participants in an altercation that took place last week between European diplomats and Israeli Border Police officers, and is weighing whether to declare a French diplomat persona non-grata because of what officials say was inappropriate behavior for a diplomat, Haaretz has learned. National Security Adviser Yaakov Amidror is holding discussions to decide whether the French diplomat may be declared a persona non-grata. A decision has not yet been reached, but if such a measure is adopted, the diplomat, Marion Fesneau-Castaing, would no longer be afforded diplomatic immunity and would be banished from Israel. “Diplomats are sent by their governments to act as a bridge and not as provocateurs,” the Foreign Ministry said. “The European diplomats and their governments owe an explanation for this blatant violation of diplomatic codes of conduct. Israel has already made it clear that it will not accept this misconduct. Israel's response will reflect the seriousness Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

of these violations.” The incident occurred on Friday, when several European diplomats and activists were trying to help Palestinians erect tents in the village of Khirbet Makhoul, where Israeli authorities had demolished illegally built homes earlier in the week. Fesneau-Castaing is the cultural attaché for the French Consulate in Jerusalem. While the French Embassy in Tel Aviv is responsible for ties with Israel, the Jerusalem consulate is responsible for relations with the Palestinian Authority. (Haaretz 22 September 2013)

• Danon in NY Times op-ed: Annul the Oslo Accords. MK Danny Danon says 1993 bilateral agreement only brought more bloodshed; calls for three-state solution requiring regional agreement with Egypt and Jordan. No agreement can be signed until Hamas, the Egyptian crisis is dealt with, he writes. Israel should annul the Oslo Accords because the agreement only "brought increased bloodshed," Deputy Defense Minister and Likud MK Danny Danon wrote over the weekend in an op-ed for The New York Times. "Despite these efforts, true peace seems as distant as it did before the secret talks in Oslo were revealed to the world. The government of Israel must admit that we made a mistake and declare that the Oslo process has failed," he wrote. Rejecting the two-state proposal, Danon called for a "three-state solution," where any future Palestinian entity would require a "regional agreement involving Jordan and Egypt." Danon emphasized what he felt was the futility of current peace talks. He wrote that no final-status agreement with the Palestinians could be signed until issues related to "a fundamentalist Hamas regime in Gaza and continuing instability in Egypt" were resolved. The op-ed was not the first time Danon has expressed skepticism over the resumption of Palestinian-Israeli peace talks. Earlier this month, he said he would oppose even a provisional agreement given the current circumstances. He has said that the majority of Likud and the general public would reject any peace proposal along the lines of the settlement reportedly offered by former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, who today heads the Israeli negotiating team. Danon has also indicated before that he believes the Oslo Accords have become irrelevant. He called the bilateral agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organization "a thing of the past" in an interview with Israel Hayom in October of last year. His latest comments come a little more than a week before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was set to visit the White House, likely to speak with U.S. President Barack Obama about the peace process, among Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

other topics. Israel and the Palestinian Authority agreed to resume direct negotiations with U.S. mediation in July. The U.S. -- which spearheaded the resumption of peace talks -- has called the current efforts "serious." (Israeli Hayom 22 September 2013)

• Netanyahu orders settlers are allowed back into contested Hebron house. In wake of shooting that killed Israeli soldier near Hebron, prime minister pledges to 'strengthen settlement' in West Bank. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the Civil Administration on Sunday night to take the necessary action to allow Jewish settlers back into a contested house in the West Bank city of Hebron. In April 2012, a group of settlers moved into the house, claiming that they had purchased the property, which is located not far from the Cave of the Patriarchs. After reviewing the deed, the Civil Administration invalidated the purchase, citing faults in the transaction. Under the martial law in the territories, any real estate deal must first be approved by an Israeli army commander. Consequently, then-Defense Minister Ehud Barak ordered that the house be evacuated. Since then, settlers in Hebron have been waging a legal battle to gain recognition for the transaction. Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon has pledged in the past that if the deal is deemed legal, the settlers would receive authorization to move in from the military as well. On Sunday night, Netanyahu ordered that the house be inhabited without delay. "Anyone who tries to uproot us from the city of our patriarchs will achieve the opposite," he said. "We will continue to fight terrorism … with one hand, while strengthening the settlement with the other." Netanyahu's announcement came after an Israel Defense Forces soldier was shot dead on Sunday in Hebron. He was the second Israeli soldier killed since Friday by suspected Palestinian gunmen as tensions rise in the West Bank despite a resumption of stalled U.S.-brokered peace talks in July. Nevertheless, the purchase must still go through the appropriate bureaucratic channels. In June, an appeals committee ordered that the settlers' request to register the purchase be reviewed. Contrary to reports, it did not recognize the legality of the transaction, but leveled criticism at the manner in which the deal was denied. Once this process is completed, the prime minister and defense minister can sign off on the deal and allow the settlers back into the property. Netanyahu's statement did not mention a timeline for this process. The settlers said on Sunday that they will only return to the home once they receive an official authorization. (Haaretz 23 September 2013) Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

• Ariel: There will be One State West of the Jordan. Housing Minister Uri Ariel (Bayit Yehudi) said that there will never be a two-state solution to resolve the conflict between Israel and the Arabs. Speaking at a dedication ceremony for a synagogue in the community of Bnei Netzarim, which is made up of Jews who were uprooted from the community of Netzarim during the Disengagement, Ariel said, "We are committed to the land of Israel, meaning that there will be only one country, the State of Israel, west of the Jordan.” (Israel National News 24 September 2013) • Euro-Mediterranean Observatory declared that about 33% of Palestinian houses in the overcrowded living under threat of demolition are not complete licensing procedures. The Observatory said in a report that the Israeli authorities continue to fight Palestinian demographic; who is devoted to their expansion is normal less than 13% of the area of East Jerusalem, thus creating a real disaster. The settlement is expanding criticize governmental decisions with impunity, where the Finance Committee endorsed the Israeli Jerusalem municipality financial support included 1,500 housing units late last August, as Israeli bulldozers began the same month demolitions in At- Tur neighborhood in preparation for the construction of an Israeli National Park. The United Nations figures reveal a high incidence of poverty in Jerusalem from 64% in 2006 to 78% in 2012, because of the high unemployment rate which exceeds the ceiling of 40%, in addition to blatant discrimination in remuneration between the Palestinians and Israelis. The report called on Israel to freeze settlements in East Jerusalem heightened immediately, along with the protection of Palestinian sovereignty over East Jerusalem and its status as the capital of a future Palestinian State. (Quds Net 26 September 2013) • Feiglin: a Palestinian state- a recipe for the destruction of Israel. Deputy Knesset Speaker MK Moshe Feiglin, suggesting that Obama saying that "Israel's security depends on the establishment of a Palestinian state", caused by Israeli policies. Deputy Knesset Speaker MK Moshe Feiglin, accusing the leaders of Israel and Obama's statement that “Israel’s friends, including the U.S., must recognize that the security of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state depends on the establishment of a Palestinian state, and we should say so explicitly”. According to Feiglin, "to Rabin and Netanyahu returned and memorized all the leaders of Israel and the historical truth that there is no" Palestinian "no history" Palestinian "and no national aspirations" Palestinian. "There is an Arab nation that aspires to destroy Israel and invention is the way Central does it.” Feiglin noted that Western leaders have always understood this. Feiglin cited in this context the words of British Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin, who explained the nature of the UN Arab-Jewish conflict, upon the transfer of the land of Israel to the UN issue, "The purpose of the Jews is to establish a Jewish state in Israel and the goal of the Arabs is not a Jewish state Land of Israel.” This is the law alembics area - or our country or their country. Whether we knew the right of another of our country - we lost our right out. Therefore - Barack Obama is wrong and misleading the citizens of Israel. Palestinian state does not guarantee the security of Israel, but a recipe for destruction. (Israel National News 26 September 2013) • Israel to Expel French Diplomat who Punched IDF Soldier. Marion Fesneau-Castaing to be expelled from Israel after assaulting IDF soldier during protest in support of Bedouin squatters. A French diplomat who physically attacked an Israeli soldier during a demonstration in support of illegal Bedouin squatters will be deported from Israel, an official has told the Israel Hayom paper. He added, however, that it was "an isolated incident that does not characterize relations" between Israel and France. Marion Fesneau-Castaing, France's cultural attache to its consulate in Jerusalem, punched the soldier in the face during scuffles around an illegal encampment set up by local and foreign activists in the Jordan Valley. EU officials initially issued a condemnation against Israel over the incident, as reports by anti-Israel activists claimed Israeli forces had used violence against a convoy delivering "humanitarian aid," and had physically assaulted the French diplomat. However, a video of the incident emerged showing a very different story - including footage of Castaing punching a soldier in the face, as well as remarkable restraint on behalf of IDF personnel in the face of provocation by Arab and European activists. That footage provoked an angry response by the Israeli Foreign Ministry which condemned "European diplomats' blatant violation of the law, their disregard to a ruling of the Israeli court and their unnecessary provocation under the alleged pretext of humanitarian aid." Fesneau- Castaing will be deported from the country before the end of the year. (Israel National News 27 September 2013)

Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ) P.O Box 860, Caritas Street – Bethlehem, Phone: (+972) 2 2741889, Fax: (+972) 2 2776966. [email protected] | http://www.arij.org

Monthly Violations Statistics – September 2013 Demolition threatened of Houses violence settlers Israeli Threatened of Threatened of Confiscation Confiscation Governorate Trees/ Burnt Trees/ Demolished Demolished Demolished Confiscated Confiscated (Dunums) (Dunums) structures structures Upro Houses Lands Lands Land Land trees oted oted

Bethlehem 3 0 0 0 0 2 6 Jerusalem 0 0 0 13 11 39 34 Jenin 0 12 0 0 14 0 4 Tulkarm 0 80 0 0 0 0 0 Ramallah 0 1500 0 0 0 8 3 Nablus 20 0 350 1 0 0 12 Salfit 2326 (to be 0 3 0 0 0 0 uproot) Jericho 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 Gaza 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Qalqilyah 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Hebron 527 0 50 0 0 11 11 Tubas 0 0 0 61 0 0 0 Total 550 1592 400 77 26 74